SEOUL - The heads of local news medias are scheduled to visit the North Aug. 5-12 at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, according to the opposition Grand National Party.
The press delegation, accompanied by Culture-Tourism Minister Park Jie-won, would tour Pyongyang and Mt. Paektu during their eight-day visit to the North.
However, the operator of the conservative paper, the Chosun Ilbo, which has maintained an anti-North editorial line, is reported to have been excluded from the invitation list, according to Rep. Choo Chin-woo, secretary to GNP leader Lee Hoi-chang.
The North’s selective invitation of the press delegation came to light when Minister Park July 18 requested a meeting with GNP leader Lee for a briefing on the press delegation’s tour of the North.