**South Korean company representatives are attending a meeting with North Korea after Pyongyang threatened to seize their assets if they did not.**The threat is the latest move by North Korea to pressure the South to lift its ban on tours to Mount Kumgang resort.
Built with South Korean money, the resort used to earn the North tens of millions of dollars a year.
But tours were suspended nearly two years ago when a South Korean tourist was shot dead by North Korean guards.
South Korea says it wants the killing - when the tourist allegedly strayed into a military area - properly investigated before it allows tours to resume.
Uncertain
The BBC’s John Sudworth in Seoul describes Thursday’s meeting as “unusual”, and the result of threats by the North to begin seizing their property.
The businessmen, who have all invested in the resort, say they are unsure what to expect.
Our correspondent says South Korean businessmen boarded a bus in central Seoul and headed off into the unknown.
Pyongyang last week summoned the companies saying it wanted to conduct a survey of their property, and that those who failed to attend would have their assets seized.
North Korea says that unless Kumgang reopens it will consider cancelling all agreements and contracts.
Observers suggest that labouring under a strict sanctions regime, and still suffering the effects of last year’s badly managed currency reform, the North is becoming increasingly desperate for sources of foreign cash.
Kumgang, which was meant to symbolise of inter-Korean co-operation, looks increasingly like a token of continuing mistrust and tension, our correspondent says.