A group of eight top politicians from the Republic of Korea (RoK) visited the joint inter-Korean industrial complex Kaesong in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Feb. 10.

The Japanese news agency Kyodo quoted a source from the RoK’s Unification Ministry as saying that the parliamentary delegation plans to meet with company officials in the Kaesong complex. However, no meeting with DPRK officials has been scheduled.

Kim Choong-whan, Chairman of the RoK’s parliamentary Committee for External Relations, told the press that he hopes the visit will lead to further dialogue, cooperation and progress in inter-Korean relations.

The Kaesong industrial complex, which opened in 2003, stands as a symbol of reconciliation between the two Koreas . It now houses 123 RoK firms that employ some 50,000 DPRK workers./.