Hyundai Resolves Differences With North

After holding meetings with Lee Jong Hyeok, the vice chairman of the North’s Asia Pacific Peace Committee, at the Hyundai Asan Office in Gaesong, Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun said yesterday, “I cleared up the misunderstanding with North Korea.”

After returning to the South through inter-Korean Customs, Immigrations and Quarantine (CIQ) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province yesterday afternoon, Hyun told reporters, “I met with Lee and held in-depth discussions with him over pending issues, including the normalization of the Mt. Geumgang tour,” adding, “I was able to dissipate fissures between the two sides and reaffirm mutual trust through the meetings.”

Hyun explained, “The two talks were held in a very cozy atmosphere from beginning to end and we held a luncheon at a North Korean restaurant, Bongdonggwan.”

Hyun added, “I will meet Lee again in Gaesong on November 11 to draw up the best measures on the issues, including the normalization of the tour to Mt. Geumgang.”

As a result, the Mt. Geumgang tour seems to be back on track before the commemoration ceremony to mark the seventh anniversary of Hyundai Asan’s Mt. Geumgang tour project on November 19.

Sung-Won Joo swon@donga.com