South Korea’s state-funded geological research institute is exploring ways to resume research into North Korea’s mineral resources, seeking to identify deposits of rare earth metals that are key to an array of modern technologies.

However, experts say prospects for cooperation with the DPRK are slim amid its rejection of all inter-Korean ties, while other countries like Russia also have their eyes on North Korea’s mineral reserves.

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) is preparing to resume research on the DPRK’s mineral resources such as iron, magnesite, rare earths, copper and graphite, the head of the institute’s Ore