Koreas discuss fate of South Korean assets in North

(2nd LD) SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea held a crucial meeting on the fate of seized South Korean assets at a scenic mountain resort in the isolated country, an official said Wednesday.
The two sides met for an hour and plan to consult on whether to hold an afternoon session, the official said, without giving any further details on the meeting.
The issue has been a fresh sticking point in relations between the two countries that were already badly strained since Pyongyang's two deadly attacks on the South last year.
South Korea has invested tens of millions of dollars in 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 at 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 second meeting in as many weeks 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. The previous meeting ended without any serious discussions.
South Korea has vowed to explore diplomatic and other possible means to protect its property rights.
The 10-member delegation of South Korean officials and investors was to return home later Wednesday.