A government-funded economic research institute has expressed concern that various international accords regulating the import and export of strategic commodities will seriously hamper inter-Korean economic cooperation projects.

A researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy asserted in a report Thursday that such international agreements will not only be an obstacle to expanding investment toward North Korea but also to promoting South-North trade.

According to the report, international accords that would stand in the way of inter-Korean economic projects include the standards of the Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group, Missile Technology Control Regime and Nuclear Suppliers Group, which regulate the movement of strategic commodities.

The researcher said that for the smooth process of economic cooperation projects between the two Koreas, the issue of regulating strategic commodities must first be resolved.