Pilot tours to North Korea’s Mount Baekdu are likely to begin around the end of next month.

An official of Hyundai Asan, the main operator of the tourism project, said Monday that field surveys for the pilot tours will be conducted between September 5th and 10th, with the tours themselves to begin after the Chuseok holidays at the end of next month.

Hyundai Asan and the Korea National Tourism Organization had initially planned to launch the on-site inspection at the end of this month but had to postpone it due to delayed repair work on an airport near Mt. Baekdu.

Hyundai Asan is considering two pilot tours that include a stop in Pyongyang.

Details of the Mt. Baekdu tour have yet to be decided on, but the official said Hyunai Asan is planning a four-day tour that includes sightseeing in the North's capital.

Last month, Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun made a six-day visit to Pyongyang and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

During the talks, Kim gave Hyundai permission to conduct tours around Gaesong and Mt. Baekdu.