Unification Minister Hyun In-taek says Seoul will place top priority on North Korean reforestation once inter-Korean ties get back on track.

Hyun made the statement on Tuesday during a symposium organized by Seoul National University’s Institute for Peace and Unification Studies.

Hyun said reforestation projects in the North require not only willingness on the part of South Korea, but also active efforts from the North.

He said that he believes such projects should be pursued systematically within the larger framework of inter-Korean programs and Seoul’s policies on North Korea.