By Do Je-hae



North Korea and New Zealand will team up to conduct a joint study of migrating birds in the West Sea next month, according to a Radio Free Asia report Friday.



The Miranda Naturalist Trust (MNT), which maintains the Miranda Shorebird Center, will launch research in areas near Nampo in Pyongan Province from May 2-Sept. 7. A joint research team is making preparations in China.



"The study will continue until 2020, as long as we can come up with the funds," a MNT official said.



The two countries began a study of birds in the Mundeok area of Pyongan Province in 2009. It discontinued the research after the New Zealand government cut funding for the project following the 2013 North Korean attack on South Korea's frigate Cheonan.



