Seoul’s Unification Ministry expressed “deep regret” over the “self-inflicted” suspension of a joint industrial complex with North Korea on Tuesday, marking the 10th anniversary of its closure.

The ministry in a statement blamed conservative and progressive administrations for failing to restart the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC) since South Korea withdrew in 2016.

It called for restoring inter-Korean hotlines and restarting dialogue, while expressing hope for the “swift” normalization of the KIC.

“The [KIC] served as a safety valve for peace on the Korean Peninsula that eased inter-Korean tension and confrontation, and was a representative practical space for joint North-South growth