The government will provide four million dollars from the inter-Korean cooperation fund to help the United Nations Population Fund conduct a census on North Korea this year.

The Unification Ministry says the government signed a memorandum of understanding to that effect with the U.N. fund in early December.

On using the cooperation fund's money, the ministry said the census results will help illustrate North Korea's overall society and living conditions and will be used in drafting North Korea policies and economic cooperation plans.