South Korean technicians tasked with inspecting potential sites in North Korea for wireless tagging system to facilitate cross-border movements of people and materials to and from the joint factory park returned home, the Seoul government said Monday.

The six-member team returned to the South across the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two countries after spending the day checking prospective sites that can be used to set up the radio frequency identification tag (RFID) system.

Seoul's Ministry of Unification said the team members held talks with their North Korean counterparts and agreed to visit the Kaesong Industrial Complex again on Thursday.

"Because of the preparation time, the actual setting up of sensors and other equipment won't begin until next week," a ministry official said.

The latest visit comes after Seoul and Pyongyang agreed on Friday to start work on the RFID system in the first week of December.

The headway was made at the transit and communication sub-panel of the joint management committee. The committee effectively runs the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

Officials said efforts will be made to complete the necessary work as soon as possible so as to meet the deadline that calls for the system to be operational by year's end. They, however, conceded that the tags may not be operational by then.

Setting up an RFID system over the DMZ is an important first step to raise the international competitiveness of the industrial complex that first started churning out goods in late 2004.

It can address a primary grievance of South Korean companies operating in Kaesong, which had to follow strict rules governing movement to and from the complex that is home to 123 South Korean factories.

Once the system is set up, it could make it much more easier for people to travel to Kaesong.(YONHAP)