By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

South and North Korea will begin a joint inspection of industrial complexes in China and Vietnam Saturday, the Ministry of Unification said Monday.

The South will dispatch 10 officials led by Kim Young-tak, the senior representative for inter-Korean dialogue at the ministry.

``We are making preparations, assuming that the delegates will depart Dec. 12. Flight schedules and other personnel have yet to be confirmed,'' ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung told reporters.

He did not elaborate, saying that the two Koreas agreed not to make the details public.

South Korea proposed the joint survey in June as part of efforts to benchmark industrial parks abroad and learn lessons to develop the joint Gaeseong Industrial Complex in the North.

The survey results are expected to form the basis of assessing North Korea's demands for a drastic increase in salaries for North Korean workers at the complex and rent for the site.

The two Koreas conducted similar inspections in 2005 and 2007.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr