The joint government probe team investigating the shooting death of a South Korean tourist at North Korea's Mount Geumgang will announce interim results as early as Thursday.

In a Wednesday briefing, Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said the results gathered thus far will be announced by the end of the week at the latest.

The eight member probe team is comprised of six government agencies including the Unification Ministry, the National Institute of Scientific Investigation and the police. They have analyzed autopsy results of the victim — Park Wang-ja — CCTV footage from the hotel she was staying at, relevant photos as well as interviews of related parties.

On civic groups' call to allow visits to North Korea, spokesman Kim said now isn't the right time to approve or disapprove individual requests. He said the government will make a comprehensive decision on the continuation of tours to the North at a later date.