Posted on 03/13/2008 6:27:30 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
03-13-2008 10:54
S. Koreans May Get Chance to Golf in Pyongyang
A South Korean company operating tours to North Korea said Thursday it was preparing to launch a rare program that would allow South Korean visitors to play golf in the North's capital.
Seoul-based Pyeonghwa Air Travel Agency Corp. said it has agreed "in principle" with North Korean officials to offer the golf tour for South Koreans from June and is waiting an approval from the South's Unification Ministry.
"We are receiving pre-sales orders to start the golf tour to Pyongyang as soon as we get the ministry's permission," said an official at Pyeonghwa Air.
Pyeonghwa Air is an affiliate of Pyeonghwa Motor, which has exclusive rights to produce cars for the North Korean market.
"Talks with the North Korean side to iron out the details are smoothly underway," the official said on the condition of anonymity.
Under the company's plan for each tour, some 150 South Korean tourists would fly to Pyongyang from the South's western airport of Gimpo via a charter flight.
The price of the planned five-day golf tour to Pyongyang was set at as much as 2.9 million won (US$2,970) per person, the company official said, adding some 3,000 people have applied so far to buy tickets.
At present, ordinary South Koreans can only visit two sites in North Korea _ scenic Mount Geumgang on the east coast and an inter-Korean industrial complex in the western border city of Kaesong.
The Pyeonghwa Air official didn't give much details on the North's golf course, but said South Korean tourists would play golf in the Pyongyang Golf Club, which has the usual 18 holes.
"In the wake of the golf tour, our aim is to allow South Korean tourists to enjoy their travel to Pyongyang in a more relaxed manner," the official said.
Relations between South and North Korea have dramatically improved over the past decade as the two previous South Korean presidents, Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, favored engagement with the North via massive aid and economic cooperation projects.
But, new President Lee Myung-bak, a conservative former businessman, has criticized Kim and Roh for giving unconditional aid to the North.
Lee said he could suspend large-scale economic cooperation projects with North Korea unless Pyongyang lives up to its pledge to fully denuclarize. (Yonhap)
I think both are operated by Moonies.
Ping!
The last time I golfed at the Pyongyang Golf Club, I turned to my caddy and asked for my 3 wood.
He’d eaten it.
And of course L’il Kim would defeat Tiger Woods head-to-head.
OH Lordy does that mean Chia Pet could golf at this event everybody know he is Tiger Woods of NOrth Korea LOL!
I will say thanks for the ping, and nothing about being sure to bring your own food and a lot extra.
Everywhere, jirae
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