Koreas to Meet Monday on Mt. Geumgang Tours
By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
North Korea has accepted South Korea's proposal to hold talks over the resumption of tours to the Mt. Geumgang resort in the North, the Ministry of Unification said Wednesday.
Earlier, Pyongyang proposed a meeting from Jan. 26 to 27 but Seoul requested that the talks take place Feb. 8.
"The North has sent a letter saying that it agrees with our proposal to hold a meeting in Gaeseong, Monday, Chun Hae-sung, spokesman at the ministry, said. "Pyongyang informed us Tuesday evening that they would send three delegates."
In response, the South sent a message saying the list of delegates must include an official who can discuss how to guarantee the safety of tourists in the future.
In July 2008, a female South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier during a pre-dawn stroll near the resort.
Tours to the tourism enclave and Gaeseong, a capital of ancient Korea, were immediately suspended.
Seoul called for cooperation in investigating the shooting and urged Pyongyang to guarantee the safety of tourists.
But the North rejected those calls and did not allow South Korean officials to visit the site of the incident.
On Jan. 14, North Korea made an official proposal via inter-Korean channels, expressing regret over the tour suspension.