A senior Unification Ministry official says the nation's shipment of raw materials for North Korean light industry will likely be delayed.

During a forum on Tuesday, Kim Joong-tae, who heads the ministry's inter-Korean economic cooperation bureau, said it's uncertain whether Seoul can make the first shipment on June 27th due to a dispute over the items, prices and amounts of materials to be shipped.

If the shipment is postponed, Kim said that a joint on-site survey of the North’s underground resources slated for June 25th will also be delayed.

In 2005, South Korea agreed to offer the North raw materials worth 80 million dollars to help it produce clothing, footwear and soap starting in 2006.

In return, the North was to provide the South with minerals, such as zinc and magnesite, after mines were developed with South Korean investments guaranteed by Pyongyang.