S Korean politician apologises for dancing with N Korean waitress

The leader of South Korea’s ruling party today apologised for dancing with a North Korean waitress during his recent trip to a North-South joint industrial zone in the communist country.

Kim Geun-tae, chairman of the ruling Uri Party, travelled to the industrial complex in the North Korean border city of Kaesong on Friday in an attempt to show Seoul’s determination that cross-border projects should continue despite the North’s nuclear test.

He was harshly criticised by the public and main opposition Grand National Party after photos appeared to show him dancing with a waitress in a restaurant at the complex.

Kim said he didn’t dance and had just “encouraged” the North Koreans and “clapped” his hands for some 40 seconds on a makeshift stage at the urging of the waitress.