Chung Mong-hun, Chairman of Hyundai-Asan Executive Board, Visited N.K. Yesterday

Chung Mong-hun, chairman of Hyundai-Asan executive board, went to Peongyang via Beiging on the 11th to discuss the projects in North Korea.

Mr. Chung had come home to Korea on the 11th after four-months visit in the United States to visit North Korea as Kim Yongsun invited him.

Before Mr. Chung left, he met the press in Hyundai building in Gyedong and said,

“Settlement of projects in North Korea such as Kaesong industry complex project will help future economic cooperation of the two Koreas.”

To the questions about the rumor of 400 billion won support for North Korea, he briefly said, “As far as I know, Hyundai Merchant Marine loaned the money and now it paid back all.” Concerning the summon request of the prosecutory authorities, he said, “I don`t know about that.”

Mr. Chung allegedly paid a courtesy call on the minister of unification Chung Se-hyun and asked him to resume the government support for the tourism costs which was suspended due to the North Korea nuclear crisis before he left.

Mr. Chung is accompanied with seven working-level people of Kaesong industrial complex project and Mt. Keumgang tour project, including the president of Hyundai-Asan Kim Unkyu. They are planned to stay in Pyungyang for about five days and meet Jim Yong-sun and other high-ranking officials to discuss the cooperation scheme for the projects and then visit Mt. Keumgang to check up the conditions of the field.

Mr. Chung added, “This visit is purely for the business so there will be no chance of meeting Kim Jongil.”

Kang-Woon Lee kwoon90@donga.com