N.K. stressed inter-Korean summit accords during Hyundai chief`s visit: source

SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- Top North Korean officials who met with the head of
Hyundai Group in Pyongyang last week stressed the importance of abiding by the
existing inter-Korean summit agreements reached in 2000 and 2007, according to an
informed government source in Seoul Thursday.
Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman of Hyundai Group, visited North Korea last week and
met the country's leader Kim Jong-il before producing a set of agreements to
resuscitate stalled tourism projects and restart the reunions of families
separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War.
The Hyundai Group is a key South Korean investor in cross-border business ventures.
Hyun, who returned home on Monday after an eight-day visit to the North, met with
government officials to brief them on her trip and meeting with Kim.
Besides Kim Jong-il, the chairwoman also met with Kim Yang-gon, a director of the
North's Workers' Party in charge of inter-Korean affairs, Ri Jong-hyok, vice
chairman of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, a North Korean body handling
inter-Korean relations and Won Dong-yon, also a ranking member of the committee.
In their meetings with Hyun, North Korean officials reportedly stressed the
importance of the inter-Korean summit agreements and expressed their doubt over
whether the current Seoul administration remains faithful to the agreements,
according to a source familiar with Hyun's trip.
The two Koreas had a pair of summits between their leaders in 2000 and 2007, in
which they agreed to a set of tension-easing measures and joint economic
projects. The two sides had relatively frequent meetings at Cabinet level,
including talks between defense ministers during the past decade, when the South
was ruled by liberal administrations.
Inter-Korean ties, however, turned frosty with the launch of the conservative Lee
Myung-bak government last year, which linked its approach towards Pyongyang with
progress in efforts to denuclearize it.
Hyun was reported to have delivered Seoul's message that it respects the past
agreements between the two Koreas and is willing to have discussions with
Pyongyang on implementation of the agreements.
Meanwhile, observers are keeping a close eye on a possible meeting between
ranking North and South Korean officials here in Seoul on either Friday or
Saturday.
North Korea said that it will send a six-member delegation to Seoul to pay
tribute to the late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, whose first-ever
inter-Korean summit in 2000 initiated a period of cross-border reconciliation and
cooperation.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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