U.S. Calls Tour N. Korean Moneymaker

Song Min-soon, chief secretary to the president for National Security, said on October 18 on the Mt. Geumgang tour and Gaesong Industrial Complex, “We would consider revising the operation measures if necessary to ensure that they meet the standards set forth in the resolution of the UN Security Council and demands of the international community.”

The remarks were made at the 21st Century Northeast Asia Future Forum, supported by the Hyundai Research Institute, at the Westin Chosun Hotel, Seoul. It is noteworthy that the remarks came after Christopher Hill, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, said a day earlier that, “The Mt. Geumgang tour project was designed to give money to the North Korean regime.”

“We will review operations of Mt. Geumgang tour project on the ground how to meet the Security Council resolution, but we will not take measures to stop the government’s inter-Korean economic cooperation projects altogether,” said Song.

On the government’s participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), Song said “We are trying to involve ourselves in the PSI at a proper and required level that lives up to the Security Council resolution standards.”

“The cooperation of Korea and China to PSI has different meaning from other countries’ participation. Considering this sensitivity, we will review inter-Korean shipping agreement and PSI, and make necessary adjustment in our action plan,” emphasized Song.

The government held a ministerial-level national security coordination conference under Song’s presidency at Chung Wa Dae on the same day and had an intense discussion on how to revise the tour project operation.

The measures discussed at the meeting allegedly include stopping paying government subsidies for tourists to Mt. Geumgang, and delivering goods instead of paying cash to the North.

However, it is unlikely for the government to reach a final decision since there are big differences in opinion not only between Korea and the U.S. but also within the government surrounding the Mt. Geumgang tour project.

The U.S. is in effect calling for the end to the Mt. Geumgang tour project, but the Ministry of Unification and the government are saying no. The government is reviewing ways to reduce subsidies for the project while the Ministry is resistant saying there is no suitable adjustment to make.

Meanwhile, President Roh Moo-hyun participated in the meeting for a successful bid for 2014 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games and said, “The North Korean nuclear issue can be an opportunity if dealt with carefully. We should try to turn the external threats into opportunity.”

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