S. Korean invitees arrive in Pyongyang

A group of 42 South Koreans arrived in Pyongyang Monday afternoon aboard a Air Coryo Air sent by North Korea to attend commemorative events organized by North Korea to mark the 55th anniversary of the (North)Korean Workers' Party Tuesday. Since they left Seoul after having written a note of pledge to the Seoul government not to engage in any activity of political nature, their behavior during the period of stay there through Oct. 14 rivets special attention. North Korea's official news outlet, the Central News Agency, reported the arrival of those individuals and figures representing South's political parties, civil organizations on the occasion of the KWP's anniversary and that they were met at the airport by Kim Yeong-Seong, vice chairman of the Korean Council for National Reconciliation and several leaders of social organizations.

While keeping close tabs on the visit of the invitees from the South, the Seoul government believes there would not arise any serious problem. Sources said it has been the position of the government to expand contact and exchange with the North to keep pace with the developing inter-Korean relations following the June 15 summit of two sides' leaders. In this vein, they argued, the latest trip of South Koreans at the instance of Pyongyang will show that Seoul has taken upon itself the initiative for broadening inter-Korean relations, instead of walking into the trap of the united front tactics of the North.