A group of North Korean officials in charge of inter-Korean economic cooperation projects is visiting Shanghai and Shenzhen to study China's market-opening programs.

Sources familiar with the issue confirmed Wednesday that seven to eight ranking officials from Pyongyang arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday to inspect China's special economic zones and learn about Chinese economic reforms.

Sources added that efforts to pursue the establishment of an industrial complex in the North's border city of Gaesong are expected to be actively stepped up, citing the fact that officials of South Korea's Hyundai Asan Corporation are accompanying the North Korean group. Hyundai Asan is the major operator of the Gaesong industrial complex and other inter-Korean economic projects.

The North Korean delegation's inspection around major Chinese economic cities is drawing much attention as the international community anticipates the communist state to enact reforms and open itself up following North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's visit to Beijing last month.