SEOUL: North Korea has stated that it has no intention to consider South Korea’s Hyundai Group chief’s proposal to visit Mount Kumgang, according to a statement from North Korea’s foreign ministry on Saturday.
Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun has expressed her desire to visit North Korea in August and has submitted applications to South Korea’s unification ministry, as reported by Yonhap news agency on Friday, citing an unnamed official from the ministry. The late founder of Hyundai Group, Chung Ju-Yung, was born in North Korea.
In response to media reports in the South, North Korea stated that it has not been informed of any South Korean individual’s willingness to visit and has no intention to consider it. The statement emphasized that it is the consistent policy of the North Korean government to prohibit entry by any South Korean individual into its territory, and this policy will remain unchanged in the future.
Rejection of Hyundai Group Chief’s Visit
The rejection of Hyundai Group’s chairwoman’s visit by North Korea further highlights the strained relations between the two Koreas. The appointment of a conservative scholar and outspoken critic of North Korea’s human rights record as South Korea’s new unification minister, announced by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday, is expected to add further tension to the already delicate ties between the two countries.
North Korea has consistently dismissed criticism of its human rights conditions, viewing such critiques as part of a larger plot to overthrow its leadership. The rejection of Hyundai Group’s visit proposal underscores the challenges and complexities in inter-Korean relations, as the two countries continue to navigate their differences and seek opportunities for engagement and cooperation.
