North Korea has agreed to allow Japanese tour groups to visit scenic Mount Kumgang from around Sept. 20, South Korea's Hyundai Business Group said Thursday.
Japanese visits to Mount Kumgang, which is North Korea's most famous tourist spot, are expected to help improve bilateral relations at a time when North Korea has taken its first steps toward becoming a member of the international community.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and Chung Mong Hun, chairman of Hyundai Asan Co., a Hyundai subsidiary that exclusively deals with business projects in North Korea, according to the announcement.
Chung returned from a three-day trip to North Korea earlier Thursday.
In addition to meeting with Kim Jong Il on Wednesday, Chung held talks Tuesday with Kim Yong Sun, a secretary of the Workers Party of (North) Korea and chairman of the Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, which handles inter-Korean business projects.
Chung, a son of Hyundai group founder Chung Ju Yung, and his delegation entered North Korea on Tuesday via the truce village of Panmunjom.