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New York - Growing tensions with North Korea have prompted General Motors to make backup plans for its operations in South Korea, the automaker's chief executive said on Thursday.
"We are making contingency plans for the safety of our employees to the extent that we can," Chairperson and CEO Dan Akerson told broadcaster CNBC.
"Beyond that it's difficult to shift production."
GM operates five factories in South Korea that produce about 1.3 million vehicles for export and 145 000 for domestic use. Korean plants produce the Opel Mokka and the Chevrolet Cruze for the world market.
"Anything that goes on in Korea is critically important to our global production and how we view the world," said Akerson.
A backup plan could include shifting parts of production. The company must consider the availability of workers and transport infrastructure, as well as protecting its assets, Akerson said.
