Seoul, August 17: Pyongyang said Monday it was reopening its borders for inter-Korean tourism projects with the South’s Hyundai Group and remove obstacles from the operation of a jointly run business park, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported.
In a joint press release, Hyundai and the North’s Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, which runs inter-Korean business affairs announced to “restore” passage for South Korean personnel to the Kaesong industrial park and “energize the operation of the Kaesong Industrial Zone as the land passage through Military Demarcation Line is put on a normal basis.”
Access to Kaesong had been minimized following rising tensions between the two Koreas over the past year.
The two sides also announced to arrange for family reunions later this year.
South Korea halted Hyundai’s tour programme, last year after a Southern tourist was shot by a North Korean soldier because she allegedly strayed into a military zone.
The agreement comes one day after a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and Hyundai chairwoman Hyun Jeoin-eun.
–Agencies–