Green growth agency seeks to tap into N. Korea

By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- An international agency on green growth said Tuesday it's trying to open a project in North Korea, especially in the energy sector.

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), based in Seoul, with 30 member states, plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Forest Services (KFS) to that effect Wednesday.

The GGGI said it has already contacted the North Korean government and received a "positive response."

"We have written to the North Korean government to make an offer, and we have had the first positive response saying, yes, they are interested to explore how they can work with our organization," Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of GGGI, told Yonhap News Agency.

The Koreas have pushed for bilateral partnerships on forestry issues, a fruit of their summit talks and a reconciliatory mood.

Rijsberman said his agency had proposed a "study plan for 100 percent renewable energy for the Korean Peninsula."

An obstacle is the U.N.-led sanctions against Pyongyang.

The GGGI chief admitted that the sanctions will complicate the push but said the energy program needs to proceed on humanitarian grounds.

lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)