North Korea on Jan 24 denied reports that it withdrew plans to change its partner for tours of Kaesong, a town near the border with South Korea, and will collaborate with Hyundai Asan Corp., the operator of tours to the North's scenic Mt. Kumgang resort, the North's official media reported.

According to the (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a spokesman for the (North) Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee (KAPPC) said it "has no formal agreement with the Hyundai side on the issue of tour of Kaesong, and, moreover, there was no agreement with the latter in this regard in recent days."

"The KAPPC's stand (on the Kaesong tour project) is consistent and it feels no need to examine or consider any change," the KCNA quoted the spokesman as saying.

South Korea's media reported on Jan. 21 that North Korea scrapped its plan to work with South Korean travel company Lotte Tours Co. instead of Hyundai Asan in promoting a tour of Kaesong among South Korean citizens.

The North's announcement came hours after the South's Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung and the chairwoman of Hyundai Group, Hyun Jung-eun, made an official one-day visit to an inter-Korean industrial complex in the border city and were allowed to make a tour of the city's downtown area.

"We have yet to consult concretely with them, but we will make efforts to realize the Kaesong tour project this spring," Hyun said in Kaesong.

Despite its earlier contract with Hyundai Asan, North Korea requested a new deal with Lotte Tours Co. in 2005. However, the South Korean government rejected the North's request, saying the change can happen only when Hyundai Asan voluntarily concedes or pulls out of the business.

North Korea has banned South Korean officials from entering downtown Kaesong since July last year, apparently in revenge for the South's official refusal in May to change the tour partner.