A top South Korean government official Monday tried to put a brave face on the possible setback to projects between South and North Korea following the sudden death of Hyundai Asan chairman Chung Mong-hun.

Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun said in an interview with KBS radio that Chung's death will not enormously affect inter-Korean projects such as those being pursued by Hyundai, including the Mount Geumgang tourism program and the construction of the Kaesong industrial park, which are being pushed ahead on an institutional basis, and not a personal one.

Hyundai Asan has been deeply involved in various inter-Korean projects since June 2000, when the two Koreas held a landmark summit and agreed to accelerate bilateral economic cooperation.