A Chinese news agency says the Hwanggeumpyeong joint development project between North Korea and China has begun construction in earnest. Hwanggeumpyeong Island is an economic zone in North Korea.

The semi-official China News Service cited an interview with the vice mayor of China's Dandong City as saying that a management committee on the project has been established.

He said construction of basic infrastructure such as roads has begun and operations related to the project will officially launch Saturday.

The statement comes after Jang Song-thaek, vice chairman of North Korea's National Defense Commission, visited China last month and met with Commerce Minister Chen Deming.

The Hwanggeumpyeong project broke ground in June last year under the initiative to combine North Korea's land and labor force with Chinese capital and technology.