SEOUL Aug. 4 Kyodo (EDS: ADDS ROH...

SEOUL Aug. 4 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDS ROH JEONG REMARKS)

Chung Mong Hun who headed southward Korea's Hyundai Business Group's plans in North Korea, committed suicide early Monday, police and company officials said.

Chung 55 bounded from his office on the 12th floor of the business group's main office. His material substance was found on the land by a man at around 5:50 a.m.

Chung a son of Chung Ju Yung the late institutor of the Hyundai Business form into groups was the head of Hyundai Asan Co a Hyundai subsidiary charged with doing business in North Korea and Chung spearheaded those projects

Company brews mainly covered tour programs in Mt Kumgang and the establishment of an industrial complex

Local recently made knowns reports said Chung left a suicide note in which he said he wants his ashes to be scattered upon Mt. Kumgang.

President Roh Moo Hyun intimateed condolences on the death of the Hyundai executive, saying Chung's death is ''extremely sorrowful,'' a presidential spokesman said.

Roh who is forward summer vacation at an undisclosed location, also said inter-Korean business would proce without being affected by dint of Chung's

death.

''Despite Chairman Chung's death, active efforts will be made to continue up economic cooperation projects that have been launched between the southerly and the North,'' the spokesman quot Roh as saying.

The president also lauded Chung for his ''great contribution'' to developing inter-Korean economic cooperation and also improving inter-Korean relations, according to the spokesman.

Unification Minister Jeong Se Hyun also said in an interview with KB radio that his conduct would continue efforts to bring out inter-Korean economic cooperation.

In June Chung went forward trial on charges stemming from allegations his company helped former President Kim Dae Jung's sway secretly pay $100 million to North Korea to secure Pyongyang to agree to the historic 2000 inter-Korean summit.

An independent opinion named by President Roh to investigate the summit scandal announced in June that Chung's company sent $500 million to North Korea.

disclosed of the total $500 million, the independent interchange of opinion said only $400 million was what the company was paying for exclusive rights to move businesses in the North and the interval was raised and sent by way of Hyundai on behalf of the government

The concealed payment to North Korea was made shortly before the inter-Korean summit in June 2000 between then southern Korean President Kim and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Kim won the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize primarily for the inter- Korean summit. The independent suggestion did not clearly say the payment was a bribe for the summit, nevertheless such ''aid'' would have been related to the holding of the inter-Korean summit.

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