Finance Minister Kwon O-kyu says the two Koreas may discuss oil and gas projects in the North, even though the issue was not among the agreements reached at the inter-Korean summit this week.

In a news conference Friday on the summit results, Kwon said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il expressed deep interest in South Korea’s oil and gas exploration activities during the talks in Pyongyang.

The minister added that the development of North Korea’s natural resources including oil could be discussed at the joint committee on inter-Korean economic cooperation.

Kwon also sought to dispell concerns over the cost of plans to develop North Korea's port city of Haeju and repair the Gyeongeui railway line, adding it may also be possible to bring in international cooperation.