.

Sovereign debt stood at 34 percent of South Korea’s GDP in 2011, which the government aims to lower in the long term.

Despite the risk of an enlarged debt burden, the government sees more good than bad in the unification, with the ministry saying it would act to off-set the swift ageing of the South Korean population.

The ministry also pointed out the benefits of increased cooperation with neighboring countries, including the development of a gas pipeline linking South Korea and Russia.