DPRK prefers exchange of letters to discuss Mount Kumgang issue: ROK

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) preferred the exchange of letters to discuss issues on the DPRK's scenic resort of Mount Kumgang, the unification ministry of the Republic of Korea (ROK) said Tuesday.

The DPRK sent notices to the unification ministry and Hyundai Asian Corp., which participated in the inter-Korean tour project, in response to Seoul's Monday offer to hold working-level talks about the Mount Kumgang project.

With the notices, the DPRK rejected the dialogue proposal, insisting on the exchange of letters.

The unification ministry said in a statement that the government will draw up ways to deal with the issue in close cooperation with relevant businesses under the principle that all inter-Korean affairs should be resolve via dialogues and consultations.

Earlier Tuesday, the ROK's unification ministry said that it would discuss the safety guarantee of tourists from the ROK, if Pyongyang accepts Seoul's dialogue offer.

Seoul offered Monday to hold working-level talks with Pyongyang to discuss issues on the suspended tour by the ROK to the DPRK's mountain resort.

The tour of people from the ROK to Mount Kumgang, launched in 1998, has been suspended since a female tourist from the ROK was shot dead in 2008 by a DPRK soldier after allegedly venturing into off-limit areas.

The DPRK's official newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported last week that top DPRK leader Kim Jong-un said he would welcome the ROK's compatriots at any time if they want to come to Mount Kumgang.

Kim ordered the removal of ROK-built facilities in Mount Kumgang in an agreement with the relevant unit of the ROK.