[Joint Press Corps.]
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wants South Korea's participation in the development of high-tech zones, especially in Pyongyang, as part of cross-border economic cooperation agreed at a historic inter-Korean summit last month, officials said.
At talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27 in the truce village of Panmunjom, Kim called for South Korea's support and participation in the construction of telecom infrastructure such as a broadband network at high-tech development zones under construction in North Korea.
In a bid to rehabilitate the North's moribund economy, Kim has proposed the construction of more than 20 special economic zones as a key piece of its economic development strategy. However, progress has been slow due to structural challenges such as a lack of infrastructure and military tensions caused by the North's nuclear and missile threats.
Due to geopolitical risks and international sanctions, foreign investors are reluctant to do business in the isolated country because there is no clear policy to guarantee their interests.
The inter-Korean summit last month paved the way for the resumption of suspended cross-border trade and economic exchanges, but South Korea is still cautious as its investment in the North's high-tech field requires approval from the international community.
"We are still cautious ahead of a summit between North Korea and the United States," a senior government official told Aju News. "We are now in the phase of reviewing and making preparations."
Among other economic zones, North Korea is trying to lure South Korean investors into a high-tech development zone in Pyongyang's Unjong Science Park in which the State Academy of Sciences is located, the official said.
According to an earlier report by Pyongyang's state media, the Unjong zone will focus on the development of cutting-edge technologies and products in information, biology, technology and engineering, materials and equipment, and other sections.
For example, the biological industry section will house developers and manufacturers of bioengineering products such as biomedicine, enzyme products, microbial agrochemicals and fertilizers and biochemical products. Concentrated in the materials and equipment section will be research centers and manufacturing bases for laser and plasma devices, materials and other technology products.
North Korea also wants active inter-Korean cooperation in the development and research of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology as well as joint projects in agriculture, healthcare, environment and forest greening.
"From a long time ago, the new generation of North Koreans have been preparing to open up to the outside world by studying the market economy," a presidential official said, adding the North hopes to acquire knowledge and know-how in the banking business.
