hankyoreh

A North Korean official said his country is committed to the success of an inter-Korean industrial park in the communist nation, a South Korean company spearheading North Korean business projects said Monday.

Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun met Park Cheol-soo, deputy head for the complex's development project, during her visit to the industrial complex at the North Korean border city of Kaesong on Monday, according to the group's subsidiary Hyundai Asan.

At the meeting, Park told Hyun that North Korea's resolve for the success of the Kaesong industrial complex remains firm, Hyundai Asan said.

"Park told Hyun that Kaesong is a model of business cooperation between the two Koreas, and will move forward and succeed without interruption," a company spokesperson said.

In addition, Park asked Hyundai to continue playing the leading role in expanding the business complex, according to Hyundai Asan.

The remark by the North Korean representative is not new, as another official mentioned the need to continue the project in late July. That move was made after international sentiment took a turn for the worse following the launching of ballistic missiles by North Korea on July 5.

The complex, close to the border with South Korea, is a key product of the historic inter-Korean summit in 2000. Currently about a dozen South Korean garment and other labor-intensive plants are operating there, employing some 8,000 North Koreans.

Meanwhile, the latest trip by the businesswoman, who said she wanted to visit workers before the Chuseok or fall harvest holiday that falls on Oct. 6, has raised speculation that other stalled projects were discussed.

"Hyundai has been pushing to open regular tours to Kaesong, but had run into obstacles," said an industry source, adding that the Hyun-Park talks may have touched on this sensitive issue. Kaesong is the ancient capital of the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392).

Some observers said North Korea wants to open the new tour, despite opposition from the military.

Hyundai, however, said Hyun's visit is not directly related to the Kaesong tour. It added that talks have been going on for some time without any tangible results.

Seoul, Sept. 25 (Yonhap News)