North Korea Foreign Ministry says "No intention to consider" Hyun Jeong-eun's planned North Korea visit... Ministry of Unification expresses "regret"

North Korea has expressed its refusal regarding the plan by Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman of the Hyundai Group, to visit North Korea for the 20th anniversary of the late Chairman Chung Mong-hun.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 1st, Kim Song-il, director of the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that regarding Chairwoman Hyun's side submitting a report of contact with North Korea to the government, "We have never been notified of nor are we aware of any intention of any South Korean (Namjos?n) personnel visiting, and we clearly declare that we have no intention to consider it."

Director Kim said, "The policy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) government is that no South Korean personnel entry can be permitted."

He also emphasized, "The Mount Kumgang tourism zone is part of the territory of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and therefore, the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee (APPC) has no authority whatsoever in matters of entry into our country. This principle and policy are unchanging and will be maintained going forward."

Chairwoman Hyun's side planned to contact the APPC to visit Mount Kumgang for the memorial ceremony of Chairman Chung Mong-hun's 20th anniversary and applied to the Ministry of Unification for a report of contact with North Korea on the 27th of last month.

If the contact report is accepted, Hyundai would contact the APPC to receive an invitation letter for the visit, and with this invitation letter, apply to the Ministry of Unification for approval to visit North Korea. If approved, the visit would be possible. However, the Ministry of Unification has not yet accepted the contact report.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "We deeply regret North Korea's unilateral refusal regarding the visit for the sole purpose of a memorial event." It added, "Currently, Hyundai Asan's application for contact with North Korean residents is under consultation with related ministries, and we will proceed with handling it considering North Korea's announcement today."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.