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The inter-Korean joint liaison office inside the Kaesong Industrial Complex. (Baek So-ah, staff photographer)
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Support plan approved during inter-Korean exchange and cooperation meeting on Oct. 17-24
The South Korean government is providing 9.78 billion won (US$8.6 million) in inter-Korean cooperation fund support to cover facility repairs and renovations carried out ahead of the opening of an inter-Korean joint liaison office in the Kaesong Industrial Complex At a 298th Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council meeting on Oct. 17–24, the South Korean government approved a plan to use the inter-Korean cooperation fund to support repairs and renovations for the office’s opening, the Ministry of Unification reported on Oct. 24. As of late September, costs of 9.78 billion won (US$8.6 million) were incurred with supervision, adjustment, and other verification procedures after the majority of repair and renovation work was completed. Participants in the council including vice minister-level officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Participating experts included Seoul National University Professor Kim Byung-yeon, University of North Korean Studies Professor Kim Sung-kyung, Dongguk University Professor Kim Yong-hyun, Korea Women's Institute for Peace Studies Director Kim Jeong-su, and Handong University Professor Kim Joon-hyung. In their Apr. 27 Panmunjom Declaration, South and North Korea agreed to establish a joint inter-Korean liaison office; in high-level talks on June 1, it was agreed that the office would be opened in the Kaesong Complex. Since July 16, construction workers have been present at the site carrying out repair and renovations as needed for related facilities, including the building to house the office, room and board to permanent employees, and filtration/drainage and wastewater/waste treatment sites. By Noh Ji-won, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
