South Koran Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok plans to visit the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, a border city of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Tuesday, the Unification Ministry said Monday.

Lee was to visit factories of South Korean companies in the joint industrial complex after a short briefing by the complex's management office, the Unification Ministry said.

Lee, who is also the top delegate to the inter-Korean dialogue, is expected to be greeted by DPRK's officials, the ministry said.

However, there would be no formal talks between Lee and ranking DPRK officials during the one-day visit, the ministry said.

It will be Lee's first trip to the joint complex since he took office in February.

Lee's visit was announced about two weeks after Jay Lefkowitz, U.S. special envoy for DPRK's human rights, said that DPRK workers employed in South Korean companies in Kaesong are slaves and criticized Seoul on failing to improve the workers' working conditions.

The South Korean Unification Ministry was angry at Lefkowitz's remarks, describing it as "unthinkable intervention" in South Korean politics.

The Kaesong joint industrial complex is a symbol of inter- Korean cooperation.

The Unification Ministry said about 6,500 DPRK workers are working in South Korean companies in Kaesong and more than 350,000 DPRK labors are expected to be employed by 2012 when the complex is fully installed.

Source: Xinhua