The nation will begin searching for the remains of Korean independence activist An Jung-geun this month.

After assassinating Japan's Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito in 1909, An was sentenced to death by Japanese authorities. He was executed on March 26th, 1910 in the Chinese city of Lushunkou, which was then known as Ryojun.

An official at the South Korean Embassy in Beijing said excavation work will begin near the Ryojun prison.

He added that apartment construction has been halted near the site and that excavation will take two to three months.

As China has expressed willingness to cooperate, the two Koreas are likely to discuss a joint excavation of the Korean freedom fighter's remains.