Seoul ponders cost of unity

SEOUL (Reuter) - Unification of North and South Korea would cost Seoul an estimated dollars 980bn (pounds 650bn) in the first decade, South Korea's Finance Ministry said yesterday.

A ministry report said a reunified government should limit the inflow of North Koreans to the South, and nationalise all land in North Korea to sell or lease it to the public.

The report was prepared on the second anniversary of German unification - followed with interest in South Korea - and warned against German-style unification.