Government officials are split on the boundaries of joint fishing grounds to be established in the proposed inter-Korean special zone in the West Sea.

An official said Thursday that some want the fishing zone to straddle the Northern Limit Line (NLL), with each side's boundaries the same distance from the line, creating an area of the same width. But others say the distance and width rules are not a must.

Still others are reportedly flexible on the distance from the NLL but say the zone's area should be the same for each side.

The official said ministries are working to finalize a plan soon.

In a parliamentary inquiry on Thursday, Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung said the criteria of equal area and distance from the NLL would be inappropriate.