N. Korea proposes talks for on-site probe into death of S. Korean tourist

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details; background throughout)
SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has proposed that the two Koreas hold
talks on coordinating an on-site investigation at a resort in the North where a
South Korean tourist was shot dead last year, promising to cooperate fully on the
South's safety concerns over the resumption of the cross-border tour program, an
informed source said Sunday.
North Korea has recently proposed talks with the South on ways to resume tours to
Mount Kumgang, which were suspended by Seoul in July last year after a female
tourist, Park Wang-ja, was shot dead by a North Korean soldier after wandering
into an off-limits military zone near the resort on the North's east coast.
The tours, which began in 1998 under an agreement between North Korean leader Kim
Jong-il and the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung, have earned the
cash-strapped country US$487 million in tour fees over the past decade.
Last week, Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun visited Mount Kumgang for the
anniversary of the program. Sources at Hyundai said North Korea has proposed
talks with the South on ways to resume suspended tours.
Ri Jong-hyuk, vice chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee in charge
of inter-Korean relations, reportedly met with Hyun and told her that the North
is "willing to cooperate on anything that the South wants, including a
fact-finding investigation, prevention of future similar incidents, assurance of
the safety of tourists and allowing an on-site investigation," sources familiar
with Hyun's visit said, requesting for anonymity.
Ri further told Hyun to relay the message to the South's Unification Ministry,
adding that it should be considered as a formal request for
government-to-government talks, according to the source.
After the chairwoman's return to the South, Hyundai reportedly submitted a
written statement describing Hyun's encounter with Ri.
The Unification Ministry has not denied the reported proposal, but has refrained
from commenting.
It is rare for Pyongyang to offer dialogue through a non-governmental channel. A
Hyundai source privy to the matter could not say why the North did not directly
contact the South Korean government.
Pressured by U.N. financial sanctions imposed over its nuclear and missile tests
in the spring, North Korea has repeatedly called for the resumption of the tours.
In August, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il invited the Hyundai chief to the
country and reached accords to reopen the tours.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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