Anchor: North Korea has approved a group of South Korean lawmakers to visit the Gaeseong Industrial Complex next week. The decision comes amid escalating threats against the South, and it’s uncertain if the trip will have any impact on icy South-North relations. Our Kim In-kyung has more.
 
Report: Members of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee members will visit the Gaesong Industrial Complex for an on-site inspection.
 
The Unification Ministry said Pyongyang gave its consent for the visit next Wednesday through the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex management committee at 9 a.m. Thursday.
 
The Unification Ministry conveyed the parliamentary committee's request to North Korea on October 16th.
 
The ministry said it will make preparations for the lawmakers' visit to the factory park. 
 
Fifty-seven people have applied to visit, including 24 lawmakers from the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, aides and specialists.
 
Members of the committee haven’t visited the Gaeseong complex since February last year.
 
The decision came suddenly as North Korea has recently been escalating its denunciation of the South. Pyongyang also said it would strengthen its nuclear deterrence if external threats build up.
 
Experts say the North is trying to normalize the Gaeseong complex as a way to seek a breakthrough amid pressure from the international community and deadlocked South-North relations.
 
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News.