By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
A total of 159 chief executives of small- and medium-sized firms began a four-day trip to North Korea Wednesday to inspect industrial sites and weigh up investment opportunities in the communist state, the organizers said.
It is the first group of South Korean delegates to visit Pyongyang since conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office on Feb. 25.
The trip was co-organized by Acheon Global Corp. and Seoul-based tour agency Pacific Holiday Tour with permission from the Lee government.
Acheon, founded by former Vice Chairman Kim Yoon-kyu of Hyundai Asan, is involved in trading and other economic cooperation programs with Pyongyang.
``We selected those who are interested in investment in North Korea or economic cooperation projects between the two Koreas. We believe that the visit will be a good opportunity for them to discover the state's competitiveness and conceive practical business projects,'' an official from Acheon told reporters.
After arriving at Sunan Airport in Pyongyang by chartered flight, the South Koreans attended a dinner reception.
On Thursday, the group is scheduled to visit West Sea Flood Gate in Nampo and Kimchaek University of Technology in the capital, guided by North Korean officials, the organizers said.
They will hold a seminar on investment in the North and inter-Korean economic cooperation on the third day of the trip at the Yanggakdo Hotel.
The delegation will return to Seoul Saturday.
President Lee has vowed to better inter-Korea relations once North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons program.
Political analysts said the Lee government would take a tougher line toward the North than the liberal governments led by former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun since, Lee has insisted on no more unconditional aid.
ksy@koreatimes.co.kr
