By Kim Tae-gyu
Staff Reporter


South and North Korea reached an agreement on the supply of electric power to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, according to the Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) on Friday.

Under the agreement, the South will transfer electric power to the communist North from late next month, marking the first time since the Korean War broke out in 1950.

KEPCO is required to provide 15,000 kilowatts of electricity through above-ground power lines to the complex’s pilot zone, sized at 28,000 pyong (92,400 square meters).

By 2007 when the first-phase development of the Kaesong complex is scheduled to finish at 1 million pyong, the transmission volume will increase to 100,000 kilowatts.

The utility said 22,900-volt lines will be used to supply electricity to 15 tenants next year and the cable will be upgraded to 155,000-volt cables by 2007.

KEPCO’s Munsan power substation will take charge of transmitting electricity to Kaesong, situated just above the heavily fortified demilitarized zone.

North Korea has been chronically short of electricity, making it vital to secure a stable power supply to operate the Kaesong complex successfully.

Pyongyang had initially asked that a power generation facility be built, but Seoul suggested the complex’s electricity needs be met via power lines.

The Kaesong park is being hailed as a successful example of cross-border cooperation that emerged from the historic June 2000 summit meeting between the then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

voc200@koreatimes.co.kr