The government said that it will dispatch an inspection team to South Korea's Sejong base stationed in the Antarctic for a 13-day mission starting this Sunday and lasting through January 14th.

The ten-member delegation of working-level officials from the Ministries of Science and Maritime Affairs will inspect facilities and equipment and visit nearby Chinese and Russian research bases to take stock of the implementation of related international agreements.

Officials of the maritime affairs ministry will, in particular, examine the local weather and geological conditions in regards to an icebreaker construction project that is currently in operation until 2008.

Sixteen men from Seoul recently arrived at the Sejong base to make preparations for the winter season in the earth's coldest land.