Former presidential chief-of-staff Han Kwang-ok was questioned Thursday by an independent counsel team investigating a North Korean payoff scandal.

Han, arrested Tuesday on separate graft charges, reported to the independent counsel office to answer allegations that he pressured a bank to make loans to Hyundai Group firms.

The previous Kim Dae-jung administration is suspected of sending cash and goods to Pyongyang in exchange for its agreeing to a historic inter-Korean summit in June 2000. Hyundai firms, which had inter-Korean economic projects underway at the time, are believed to have acted as the channel for remittances.

Han allegedly ordered the Korea Development Bank to arrange speedy loans to Hyundai companies so the remittances could be made promptly.