ID :
117975
Thu, 04/22/2010 - 09:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/117975
The shortlink copeid
N. Korea's military to inspect S. Korean assets at troubled mountain resort
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean military delegation will visit the communist state's troubled eastern mountain resort Thursday, the government here said, raising fears Pyongyang may freeze more South Korean assets in anger over Seoul's refusal to resume cross-border tours.
The North notified a South Korean tour operator Wednesday of the planned visit by
a delegation from the National Defense Commission, Pyongyang's highest seat of
power, the Unification Ministry here said in a release.
The North "will visit the Mount Kumgang zone at 9:00 a.m. to check on the results
of a real estate survey" that took place late last month and led to the freezing
of South Korean government-fun facilities, including a fire station and a duty
free shop, it said.
A company source, citing the North Korean statement, said the North requested
that the tour operator "unlock tourism facilities that were not frozen so North
Korean authorities can take a look inside."
The planned visit comes after a similar delegation conducted an unexpected
two-day survey of the inter-Korean industrial complex near the west coast early
this week. North Korea has threatened to "entirely review" the joint venture in
Kaesong if inter-Korean relations do not improve.
On April 8, North Korea ditched Seoul as its partner for the tourism project at
Mount Kumgang and then kicked out personnel from the frozen facilities.
The move reflected Pyongyang's impatience over Seoul's reluctance to resume the
lucrative tours that were suspended in 2008 after a South Korean tourist was shot
dead near the North Korean resort.
North Korea said its agreement with the South Korean tour organizer, Hyundai
Asan, is "no longer valid due to the South Korean authorities" and that it would
team up with a new tour operator.
Tours to the mountain earned the sanctions-hit North millions of U.S. dollars
before their suspension. Seoul says the tours will not resume until Pyongyang
apologizes for the 2008 shooting death of a tourist, allows an on-site probe and
makes state-to-state promises for tourist safety.
Pyongyang says it has done everything to relieve concerns.
South and North Korea remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War
ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean military delegation will visit the communist state's troubled eastern mountain resort Thursday, the government here said, raising fears Pyongyang may freeze more South Korean assets in anger over Seoul's refusal to resume cross-border tours.
The North notified a South Korean tour operator Wednesday of the planned visit by
a delegation from the National Defense Commission, Pyongyang's highest seat of
power, the Unification Ministry here said in a release.
The North "will visit the Mount Kumgang zone at 9:00 a.m. to check on the results
of a real estate survey" that took place late last month and led to the freezing
of South Korean government-fun facilities, including a fire station and a duty
free shop, it said.
A company source, citing the North Korean statement, said the North requested
that the tour operator "unlock tourism facilities that were not frozen so North
Korean authorities can take a look inside."
The planned visit comes after a similar delegation conducted an unexpected
two-day survey of the inter-Korean industrial complex near the west coast early
this week. North Korea has threatened to "entirely review" the joint venture in
Kaesong if inter-Korean relations do not improve.
On April 8, North Korea ditched Seoul as its partner for the tourism project at
Mount Kumgang and then kicked out personnel from the frozen facilities.
The move reflected Pyongyang's impatience over Seoul's reluctance to resume the
lucrative tours that were suspended in 2008 after a South Korean tourist was shot
dead near the North Korean resort.
North Korea said its agreement with the South Korean tour organizer, Hyundai
Asan, is "no longer valid due to the South Korean authorities" and that it would
team up with a new tour operator.
Tours to the mountain earned the sanctions-hit North millions of U.S. dollars
before their suspension. Seoul says the tours will not resume until Pyongyang
apologizes for the 2008 shooting death of a tourist, allows an on-site probe and
makes state-to-state promises for tourist safety.
Pyongyang says it has done everything to relieve concerns.
South and North Korea remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War
ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
