Asia-Pacific

DPRK offers to discuss seized ROK assets

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-18 16:19

SEOUL -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) proposed Thursday discussing seized Seoul assets at a mountain resort in the country at the upcoming Red Cross talks, the unification ministry in Seoul said.

In a message delivered to the Republic of Korea (ROK), the DPRK suggested authorities involved in the suspended tour program to the mountain resort discuss the issue at the latest round of the Red Cross talks slated for November 25.

Related readings:  ROK calls on DPRK to unfreeze assets before talks   DPRK to freeze Seoul's assets in Mt. Kumgang

The offer came one day after Seoul renewed its call on Pyongyang to withdraw its confiscation of the ROK properties at the resort, a measure taken in protest to Seoul's refusal to resume the tour.

Once a rare source of foreign exchange for Pyongyang, the tours were indefinitely suspended in 2008 after a ROK tourist was shot dead by a DPRK soldier. Seoul has refused to resume the lucrative tours unless Pyongyang allows an investigation into the case and draws up safety measures for the ROK tourists.

The DPRK's seizure and freezing of the ROK's assets in May prompted protest from Seoul, which regards the measure as a violation of inter-Korean agreements and international norms.

The Red Cross talks next week is designed to discuss regularizing reunions of families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean war.