North Korea seeks to directly handle tours to the Mount Kumgang area
after forcing South Korea out of the venture, said a source on North
Korean affairs yesterday.
Korea Taepung International Investment Group, an agency under the
North’s powerful National Defense Commission, has reportedly recruited
Chinese companies to help operate the tour since January this year.
The source said, “Negotiations have significantly progressed in certain
aspects,” adding, “I understand the North Korean leadership is
considering directly operating the Mount Kumgang tour by getting
Taepung or an agency under the National Defense Commission to hire
multiple Chinese companies as agencies after forcing the Hyundai Group
out of Mount Kumgang and Kaesong.”
Another informed source said, “Since Taepung is an agency that holds
overall authority over attracting investment for the North’s national
development, the group is believed to be advising and supervising
efforts to resume the Mount Kumgang tour as well.”
On this, a South Korean government source said, “Even if the North
severs ties with Hyundai Asan Corp., complicated legal action will
continue over the North’s violation of the contract,” adding, “No Chinese
company will seek to serve as a comprehensive business operator, so
the new plan appears to be the most practical alternative for North
Korea.”
If Taepung or an agency under the defense commission starts to
operate the tour directly, the tour program will likely be operated under
a completely different system.
The tour’s South Korean operator, Hyundai Asan, has wielded
comprehensive and monopolistic rights to the venture, but North Korea
appears to have taken over as the operator, with multiple foreign
companies taking part.
An agency under the North’s defense commission or military will likely
step forward to operate the tour in lieu of Pyongyang’s Asia-Pacific
Peace Committee under the ruling Workers’ Party or the Landmark
General Development Bureau under the North Korean Cabinet.
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=050000&biid=2010042685488
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