The government says graphite produced at the first inter-Korean resource cooperation site in North Korea will be brought to the South next month.

A Unification Ministry official in Seoul said the first shipment of 200 tons from North Korea's Jeongchon mine was scheduled to arrive early next month.

The official added that the government was planning to bring in an additional shipment of 300 tons by the end of this year.

The Korea Resources Corporation signed a 50-50 joint development agreement with the North in July 2003 and began production after a launch ceremony in April 2004.