American boy scouts to visit Mt. Kumgang

Ten American Boy Scouts and staff members will visit North Korea`s Mt. Kumgang after the end of the 21st Asia-Pacific jamboree currently under way in Kosong County, Kangwon Province.

Jamboree officials said yesterday that the group will include eight scouts aged 15-17 hailing from Diamond Bar, a city south of Los Angeles, and two scout leaders. They will travel by Hyundai cruiser for the four-day trip to the scenic Mt. Kumgang area. The visit is a result of the efforts of Korean-American Lee Ki-Dong, who has pursued the project since last year to pave the way for exchanges between the youths of the two Koreas. Lee is a 715th Scout Leader of the American Boy Scouts.

Lee said that the Scouts had originally hoped to camp out at the scenic mountain, but the North refused this proposal. He also expressed hopes that there would be a chance for South Korean Boy Scouts to camp with North Korean youths in their age group.