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North Korea has invited 150 Democratic Party lawmakers and others to the North Korean border city of Kaesong, the Unification Ministry said Tuesday. They had originally planned to visit the Kaesong Industrial Complex on the first anniversary of the Oct. 4, 2007 Summit Declaration, adopted by former president Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
The ministry has already said it will permit the visit, and the lawmakers are expected to go to Kaesong on Thursday as scheduled. The DP on Sept. 11 asked the government for permission for 70 lawmakers including Chairman Chung Se-kyun, 40 DP members and 40 journalists to visit Kaesong. This will be the first time a large group of South Korean politicians have visited the North since the fatal shooting of a South Korean tourist at the Mt. Kumgang resort in July.
The group will visit South Korean companies and major facilities such as a supermarket, a hospital and a bank, in the industrial complex, where they will also meet workers. They are also expected to visit Hyundai Asan's Kaesong office and a wastewater treatment plant there.
DP spokeswoman Kim Yoo-jung said, "We're visiting Kaesong to urge the government to implement the Oct. 4, 2007 Summit Declaration as soon as possible and contribute to improving stalemated inter-Korean relations. During our visit, we'll discuss what should be improved and how the government and political circles can help" in the industrial complex.
Earlier, Chung asked President Lee Myung-bak during a one-on-one meeting at Cheong Wa Dae last Thursday to support easier travel, communication and customs clearance for economic cooperation projects at the Kaesong complex.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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