South Korea's unification minister began a trip to North Korea on Monday to observe the scenic Mount Geumgang resort and further promote inter-Korean reconciliatory projects there.
During his three-day trip, Lee Jae-joung plans to visit various sites South Korea has helped facilitate in the eastern mountain area, such as the construction site for a building to hold reunions of families separated after the Korean War and the rural village of Onjong-ri, where the furnaces of farm houses have been renovated and a hospital has been equipped with support from the South, the ministry officials said.
Lee, who is making his first trip to the North Korean resort since he took office last year, said previously that he had "no plan to hold official talks with the North Korean side this time."
He instead plans to meet with Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman of the Hyundai Group, which operates tour programs to Mount Geumgang for South Korean citizens.
Lee's visit coincides with a one-day inter-Korean meeting of working-level defense officials on Tuesday to work out the schedule and venue for upcoming general-level military talks next week.