South Korea is reportedly agonizing over whether to send refined oil products to North Korea for a joint cultural event in the North's Mount Geumgang early next month.
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​A Seoul official said on Sunday that South Korea asked the North to supply power for the cultural event, but Pyongyang replied that it cannot ensure a stable power supply for the facilities built by South Korea.
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​The official said that South Korea needs to solve the electricity issue, but tough sanctions imposed by the United Nations and the United States are making it difficult for Seoul to send refined oil to the North.
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​In December, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution against North Korea, which caps imports of refined oil products, including diesel and kerosene, at 500-thousand barrels a year.
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​The United States banned the transfer of refined oil products to and from North Korea in August of last year.
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​The amount of refined oil needed for the inter-Korean event is said to be about ten-thousand liters.
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​The Seoul official said that the amount will not surpass the UN limit and there will be no problem if Seoul reports to the UN later that it sent refined oil for the cultural event.
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​The official said that the oil is basically for the cultural event and any unused amount will be brought back to Seoul after the event, adding the government will have close prior consultation with the United States on the matter.