The government is actively reviewing a North Korean proposal that the two Koreas conduct joint studies on a possible eruption of Mount Baekdu, a dormant volcano.

A government official said Saturday that a Mount Baekdu earthquake task force that was established last August by nine government agencies, including the Unification Ministry, is reviewing the North’s recent offer.

Another government official said Seoul is likely to have a response to the North’s offer around the middle of next week.

He said that key inter-Korean issues, including Seoul’s calls on the North to apologize for the sinking of the Cheonan and shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, need to be taken into consideration when studying the North’s proposal.

Mount Baekdu located on the border between North Korea and China is the highest mountain on the Korean Peninsula at 2,750 meters.