hankyoreh

North Korea

PYONGYANG: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), the world’s second-largest shipbuilder, said on May 15 that it wants to produce ship blocks in North Korea if all conditions are met.

"If all conditions are met and everyone involved can benefit, we have no reason not to initiate such a business, even given that it would be in North Korea," said DSME’s CEO Nam Sang-tae at a symposium for inter-Korean economic cooperation promotion held in Pyongyang, North Korea. Nam added that DSME currently runs an operation to produce ship blocks in China.

In response, Cha Sun-mo, a North Korean official in charge of that country’s land and maritime transportation, said, "North Korea has no difference in business conditions compared with other countries. We will help fuel economic activity, announced as a plan during the first-ever summit between the two Koreas in 2000.

Mentioning a development plan for the North’s Najin Port, which is located close to the North Korea-Russia border and designated as a special economic zone for international enterprises, Cha said there has been no agreement between the North and China on the issue, saying that it would be a great opportunity to develop the port in cooperation with the South.

Late last year, Pyongyang and Beijing reportedly agreed to cooperate in improving and expanding the road linking Najin Port and Wonjeong in the North’s inland in return for Pyongyang’s guarantee to Beijing for use and operation of piers in Najin.

China does not have a port to the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and is reportly eager to develop the infrastruture of the poorly equipped Najin port - which is off the East Sea - in order to gain a sea route for its northeast region.

Members of the South Korea economic delegation visiting Pyongyang met with their North Korean counterparts and discussed ways to boost inter-Korean economic cooperation in light industries, railroads, roads, glass, and automobiles, sources said.

Separately, a ceremony was held in Pyongyang to mark the completion of a factory for student notebooks, a project contributed to by the Hankyoreh Foundation for Reunification Culture. Min Byeong-seok, head of the cultural foundation, said that the center is yet another good example of peaceful and constructive inter-Korean cooperation.

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