Unification Minister Chung Dong-young says the government will speed up the development of the industrial complex in North Korea's border city of Gaesong and launch similar projects.

In a Wednesday meeting with the heads of South Korean firms operating in the complex, Chung said the first-stage site preparation will finish ahead of schedule while the second will proceed simultaneously.

Meanwhile, the executives urged fast improvement of inter-Korean transportation, communications and custom clearance.

They also lauded the productivity and diligence of North Korean workers as being higher than expected.