N.Korea And S.Korea Talk To Allow More Travel And Family Reunions

"Kim Jong Il, chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, on August 16 granted a long audience to and had a cordial talk with Hyon Jong Un, chairperson of the Hyundai Group, and her party on a visit to Pyongyang, and complied with all her requests.

"Accordingly, the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and the Hyundai Group will execute as follows:

"1. It was decided to resume the suspended tourism of Mt. Kumgang as soon as possible and launch the tour of Pirobong, the highest peak in the mountain. All necessary facilities and security for tourism will be reliably provided according to the special measure taken by Kim Jong Il, chairman of the National Defence Commission.

"2. It was decided to restore land passage of the south side's personnel through the Military Demarcation Line and their stay in the north side's area as they were according to the spirit of the historic October 4 declaration.

"3. It was decided to resume the tourism of Kaesong soon and energize the operation of the Kaesong Industrial Zone as the land passage through MDL is put on a normal basis.

"4. The Hyundai Group decided to begin tourism of Mt. Paektu in accordance with the progress of its preparations.

"5. It was decided to provide reunion of separated families and relatives from the north and the south in Mt. Kumgang on the day of Chusok (harvest moon day), a folk holiday of the Korean nation, this year.

"Both sides expressed will to improve the north-south relations and further develop the cooperation for the common prosperity of the nation under the historic June 15 joint declaration and the October 4 declaration."