Seoul approves Hyundai chairwoman's trip to N. Korea next week
2014/07/31 11:26
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, July 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea gave the green light Thursday for the chairwoman of Hyundai Group to visit North Korea next week for the commemoration of her husband who died 11 years ago.
Hyun Jeong-eun's trip raises hopes of a breakthrough in efforts to revitalize inter-Korean economic cooperation, but the South's government officials cautioned media against excessive optimism.
Hyun, accompanied by 22 other Hyundai officials, plans to cross the inter-Korean border on Monday morning for a one-day trip to Mount Kumgang along the North's east coast, according to the South's unification ministry. The mountain used to be a mecca for inter-Korean tour business led by Hyundai Asan, the group's North Korea business arm.
Hyun's late husband, Chung Mong-hun, spearheaded Hyundai's business in the communist nation.
Hyun took over the company shortly after the 2003 death of Chung amid allegations that he transferred secret funds to Pyongyang to help arrange a landmark inter-Korean summit in 2000.
During her upcoming visit to the North, Hyun is scheduled to attend a commemorative event for Chung and inspect Hyundai's properties remaining in its resort on Mount Kumgang, said the ministry.
"For now, Hyun has no plans to meet North Korean officials. The South Korean government has no plans to deliver a message (to the North through Hyun)," a ministry official told reporters in a background briefing.
The joint tour program to the mountain has been suspended since 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot to death there by a North Korean soldier.
In 2009, Hyun had a surprise meeting with then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during her visit to Pyongyang. She also traveled to Mount Kumgang last year to mark the 10th anniversary of her husband's death but reportedly did not receive any special message from the North.
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