Researchers in South set a plan to develop North

Eleven state-affiliated research institutions, led by Korea Development Institute, are drawing up a comprehensive development plan for North Korea, a KDI researcher said Sunday. This is the first time government-run institutions have formed a coalition to map the outlines of development policy for North Korea.

The Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Technology, Korea Rural Economic Institute, Korea Institute for National Unification, Korea Energy Economics Institute, Korea Information Society Development Institute, Korea Transport Institute, Science and Technology Policy Institute and Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements are among those included in the joint research team.

KDI earmarked 350 million won ($270,000) for the report, which is scheduled to be published in June.

The associations will set the course of development and goals for infrastructure, the environment, energy production, development of science and technology, land planning and interaction with the four neighboring nations and the role of international organization in the North.

"This is the first time the South will cover the entire sphere of economic development of the North," said a KDI researcher. "The results will be of service to government divisions and South Korean corporations that plan to do business there."

KDI is also considering discussing development strategies with North Korean officials, based on this research.

This research is said to have been proposed by Horst Kohler, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, to President Kim Dae-jung in March 2001.

by Oh Young-hwan