Korean businessmen plan to visit North

Nearly 500 Korean businessmen in Japan and the United States are planning to visit North Korea through Panmunjom at the end of October. Once the plan is realized, it will be the largest group of Korean businessmen from abroad to visit North Korea, excluding the delegation organized by Chochongnyon, a pro-North Korean group.

Kim Sang-Ho, chairman of Korean-American Chamber of Commerce & Industries Federation, said July 22 that about 500 KACCIF members were pursuing a plan to visit Pyongyang through Panmunjom on July 31 after holding a three-day meeting in Seoul. Kim, chairman of the organizing committee for the visit to North Korea by Korean businessmen, said that he can`t disclose more details, under the request of North Korean authorities.

He noted that Korean businessmen around the world were studying ways to help North Korea in an era of South-North reconciliation and to direct investment in North Korea by Korean firms.

Meanwhile, the Overseas Korean Traders Association, which is comprised of about 6,000 Korean traders in 68 countries, reportedly is planning to organize a group for investment in the North. That group is to visit Pyongyang in November.