S. Korean lawmaker plans Pyongyang visit to discuss aid

SEOUL, July 28 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean lawmaker plans to lead a group of civic
officials on a visit to Pyongyang to discuss humanitarian aid despite a breakdown
in cross-border dialogue exacerbated by the North's recent military provocations,
his aides said Tuesday.
Rep. Chung Eui-hwa of the ruling Grand National Party, who also serves as joint
head of the Korea Sharing Movement (KSM), a civic aid group, has requested
government permission to make a four-day visit to Pyongyang starting Wednesday,
according to his aides.
The group is expected to meet with officials from the North's Korean Council for
Reconciliation and Cooperation to discuss medical and other humanitarian support
projects.
The government has tentatively decided to authorize the visit by Chung and seven
officials at the organization, Chung's aides said. It would mark Seoul's first
approval of a visit by a non-government group to North Korea since Pyongyang
carried out its second nuclear test on May 25.
The planned trip is expected to be approved later in the day, according to aides.
Earlier requests by the KSM were rejected due to the state of inter-Korean
relations, which have frayed in recent months due to the North's nuclear and
missile tests.
Chung is not scheduled to meet with any high-profile officials in North Korea,
but he reportedly coordinated with government officials here on what kind of
message should be delivered in case he comes in contact with higher-ups in
Pyongyang.
"He was reportedly considering exchanging views on the Kaesong industrial park if
any meetings with government officials should occur during the visit," one
official at the ruling party said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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