The government says it will consider providing assistance to South Korean companies operating at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea

An association of Gaeseong companies requested on Friday that the government provide loans using 61 billion won from the South-North Cooperation Fund for inter-Korean economic cooperation projects.

Unification Ministry spokesman Cheon Hae-sung said the government will discuss the matter with related ministries.

Since 2007, the government has encouraged South Korean companies at the industrial park to purchase insurance for inter-Korean economic cooperation projects.

Therefore, the ministry said the government has thus far declined to provide direct loans to the companies from the cooperation fund.

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