Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun says Seoul will help finance the construction of buildings and necessary plant facilities in the Gaesong Industrial Complex.

At a meeting with small- and medium-sized businesses, Jeong said the government will provide some 110 billion won from the South-North Cooperation Funds to finance the project.

Jeong said the state-run utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation, and Korea Telecom will provide electricity and communications service.

The minister also revealed that North Korea recently abolished its system of rationing food to ordinary citizens, instead asking them to purchase half of their rice consumption with government-issued stamps at markets.