Koreas may partner on volcano research

Mount Paektu

Agence France-Presse and the Wall Street Journal both carried the news that North Korean authorities have proposed joint North-South research into Mt. Paektu. The spectacular volcano, which straddles the border between the DPRK and China,  has been quiet since its last eruption in 1903, but experts say its core may still be active.

The North’s earthquake bureau suggest the two countries jointly research the mountain given last week’s devastating quake and tsunami in Japan.

“Our government understands that there must be inter-Korean cooperation as far as natural disasters are concerned,” ministry spokesman Chun Hae-Sung told reporters, but discussions are still under way as to whether to accept the North’s proposal.