North Korea has proposed talks with Hyundai Asan Corporation to discuss the Mount Geumgang tour.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young told a parliamentary inspection of the administration Tuesday that the vice chairman of the North's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, Ri Jong-hyok, offered talks with the Hyundai Group subsidiary.

The North has threatened to reconsider its business relations with Hyundai Asan if the company does not rehire a top executive close to Pyongyang.

The minister said the tour was a special deal based on mutual trust and a decision made between Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-young and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

But with so many worried over the project, Chung Dong-young said efforts will go to normalize the soured ties of the two sides.