Koreas to discuss fate of South Korean assets in North

SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- A team of South Korean officials and investors headed to a scenic mountain resort in the North on Wednesday to resolve a dispute over Seoul's assets seized by the North, officials said.
   South Korea has invested tens of millions of dollars into hotels, restaurants and a golf course at Mount Kumgang since 1998 when the North opened the resort for South Korean tourists.
   However, Seoul halted the joint tour program in 2008 following the shooting death of a South Korean female tourist in the resort.
   Last year, the North seized or froze several South Korean assets at the resort in apparent anger over the stalled project that had served as a key cash cow for the impoverished country.
   The 10-member delegation was to meet with North Korean counterparts at the resort in their second meeting in as many weeks, officials said.
   The meeting comes after Pyongyang threatened to dispose of the assets unless South Korean investors came to the resort by Wednesday with plans on how to handle their assets.
   South Korea has vowed to explore diplomatic and other possible means to protect its property rights.
   The previous meeting ended without any serious discussions.