Head of pro-Seoul business body visits N. Korea in Oct

Asian Economic News, Nov 13, 2000

TOKYO, Nov. 8 Kyodo

The head of the pro-Seoul confederation of Korean chambers of commerce in Japan visited North Korea last month and inspected joint ventures there, sources at the organization said Wednesday.

A five-member group including Hong Chae Sik, head of the confederation under the pro-Seoul Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan), and his wife traveled in the country from Oct. 17 to 21, according to the sources.

The group visited Pyongyang, Nampo, Gaesong, Bammunjom and Myohyangsan, and toured a sewing factory jointly run by North and South Korea, they said.

The members also met with senior North Korean government officials but did not discuss specific investments in the country, the sources said.

Hong visited the North in a private capacity, but this is the first time for a senior official of a pro-Seoul organization to go there.

The visit indicates the increasing likelihood of investment in North Korea by South Koreans living in Japan, analysts said.