By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

North Korea has said that it will allow South Korean officials to visit the North's Mt. Geumgang resort to investigate the shooting to death of a South Korean female tourist last year, a report said Sunday.

Officials at Ministry of Unification said they haven't received an official message from North Korea yet, but are aware of Pyongyang's intent.

The North delivered the message to the chief of Hyundai Asan Group, according to Yonhap.

An unidentified government source privy to North Korean affairs said Ri Jong-hyuk, vice chairman of the North's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee in charge of inter-Korean relations, met with Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun in the mountain resort and told her that Pyongyang was willing to cooperate on a fact-finding probe into the shooting case, the report said.

Pyongyang has rejected Seoul's proposal for an on-site probe into the deadly incident, putting the tourism project on hold for more than a year.

Hyun visited the resort to attend an anniversary ceremony of the inter-Korean tourism program that started in 1988 under an agreement between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung.

Ri also told Hyun that the North would discuss ways of assuring the safety of tourists at Mt. Geumgang, asking her to relay his message to South Korean authorities, the report said.

In July last year, a 53-year-old housewife, named Park Wang-ja, was shot dead after she allegedly wandered into a controlled military zone at the resort.

The South immediately suspended the tour program and called for a probe to examine the incident.

The North rejected the demand and, in retaliation, expelled South Korean tour operators stationed at the resort.

It remains to be seen whether Seoul will accept the North's new offer.

Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said, "We will be able to say something after we hear the offer delivered by Hyun."

South Korea has reiterated that it will not permit tours to communist North Korea unless the North apologizes for the shooting death and promises to prevent any recurrence.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr