South Korean tourist killed by North Korean soldier

South Korean spokesman Kim Ho-nyeon said the tourist, identified as Park Wang-ja, 53, was out walking when she strayed near a military area. A soldier reportedly warned her to stop, but she ran away, and one or more soldiers opened fire, Kim said, citing the Hyundai Asan tour company.

Kim said the Hyundai group was suspending tours to the Mt. Kumgang resort area, just north of the demilitarized zone, pending an investigation.

"I strongly believe this will affect relations between North and South Korea negatively in the short-term," said Hahm Sung Deuk, a professor at Korea University in Seoul. "But assuming the investigation shows it was just an unfortunate accident, it should not cause lasting damage."

The news came as North and South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia held their second day of meetings in Beijing on Pyongyang's atomic weapons program. Chinese spokesman Qin Gang said "some positive progress had been made" but didn't elaborate.

Mt. Kumgang opened to outsiders in 1998 and is a key source of hard currency for impoverished North Korea. Hyundai Asan paid $1 billion for 50-year rights.

"On the face of it, it looks like an over-zealous sentry or guard tried to stop her at a very early hour, probably thinking he was doing his duty," said Han Sung-Joo, a former ambassador to the United States

North-South relations have been strained by the recent election of conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who campaigned on a pledge to take a tougher line with the North.

Lee chose to go ahead with a policy speech a few hours after the fatal shooting, signaling a desire for warmer ties between the neighbors, who are still technically at war after the 1950-'53 conflict.

One delicate issue ahead could center on the issue of any apology, analysts said, something Pyongyang tends to view as a sign of weakness. However, some said that if the North does apologize, it could improve relations. The two sides may also find a way to ensure that it doesn't happen again.

mark.magnier@latimes.com