South-North economic cooperation schedule unveiled

South and North Korea will initiate a joint inspection of the power supply situation in North Korea beginning this month. A joint inspection related to flood prevention on the Imjin River will be launched next month while from February to March, working-level discussions will be held concerning the construction of the Kaesung industrial complex.

On Saturday, South and North Korean authorities exchanged the mutual agreement made at the 1st South-North economic cooperation steering committee meeting together with the organizational structure and operational agreement unveiled at the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

Both sides agreed on establishing a South-North energy cooperation steering committee and Imjin River flood prevention committee comprised of 3~5 people each.

Inspection teams related to the above committees will be comprised of 7~10 individuals from both sides.

An energy cooperation working level meeting will be held for four days in Pyongyang from Nov. 7 to discuss joint inspection activities and the actual inspection process is expected to start from mid February.

The Imjin River flood prevention committee will hold a meeting in Pyongyang from Nov. 21 for four days and the joint inspection is anticipated to begin in March.

South and North will also hold meetings on the linking of the railroad between Seoul and Shinuiju, construction of a highway connecting Munsan and Kaesung and the construction of the Kaesung industrial complex.

The 2nd economic cooperation meeting will be held in Seoul in February but the exact date will revealed at a later time.

Kwon Soon-Hwal shkwon@donga.com