GNP chairman Hong to visit Gaeseong

Chairman of the Grand National Party Hong Joon-pyo will make a one-day visit to the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea this Friday.

Though the Unification Ministry here has not yet announced its stance, Hong’s visit has already been approved by the North Korean government, according to party officials.

Rep. Hong said during a parliamentary plenary session earlier this month that he is willing to visit the Gaeseong complex to see the difficulties its tenant firms face.

In his speech to the session, Hong suggested a joint South-North Korean project to enhance agricultural development and food supplies in the impoverished communist state.

The ruling camp leader has long been in support of a two-track system regarding policies toward North Korea, urging the government to maintain its current tough stance on political and military issues while responding more flexibly to economic ones.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)