Inter-Korean tension has heightened in the first quarter of the year, but local experts anticipate bilateral relations to improve down the road this year, a survey showed Tuesday.
  

According to the survey of 69 experts by Hyundai Research Institute, the peace index measuring Seoul-Pyongyang relations came to 33.6 for the January-March period, compared with the 44.7 tallied in the fourth quarter of 2014.
  

The index ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating better inter-Korean ties. An index of between 20 and 40 indicates that the two neighbors face heightened tensions, while that between 40 and 60 signifies a mix of both cooperation and conflicts.
  

The fall in the overall index came as experts assessed that the two countries' mutual exchanges had become less frequent than before.
  

For one, a sub-index that evaluates inter-Korean relations based on the South's aid to the North and exchange of human resources plunged to 40.5 over the cited period from the previous quarter's 50.4, according to the survey.
  

"We should promote open-door policies with North Korea by engaging in more multilateral cooperation and business projects at the non-governmental level," said Choi Sung-keun, a researcher at HRI.
  

The survey, however, said experts have forecast an improved outlook for the current quarter.      
  

Those surveyed said they anticipate the peace index to move up to 40.2 in the second quarter, according to the HRI survey. (Yonhap)