An interministerial government task force on assessing tour projects to North Korea began operation Saturday.

In a briefing on Friday, Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said the team will examine the tour programs to Mount Geumgang and the border city of Gaeseong and prepare comprehensive measures for improvement.

The task force was formed after a National Security Council meeting cited insufficient safety measures by tour operator Hyundai Asan following the shooting death of a South Korean tourist at Mt. Geumgang.

The team is headed by the Prime Minister's office security policy director Kim Eun-seok and is comprised of working-level officials from the Prime Minister's office, the Unification and Culture Ministries and the police.

The task force will question Hyundai Asan officials and plans to visit the tour sites when necessary.