It looks like the North Korean regime is getting closer to getting some kind of pay day from their hostage taking:

A number of sources close to the situation say Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun could hold a lunch meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Tuesday.

Hyun arrived in the North on Monday to win the release of a South Korean worker who has been detained in the communist state for over four months for criticizing the North’s form of government and attempting to persuade a North Korean to defect.

If a meeting with Kim does take place, Hyun is expected to ask for the worker’s release and to discuss resuming South Korean tours to the North’s Mount Geumgang resort and operations of the joint Gaeseong Industrial Complex.

Although the Seoul government approved Hyun’s trip earlier on Monday, it says the chairwoman’s visit is being made solely for business purposes.

Reports say the South Korean detainee could be released as early as Wednesday, when the chairwoman returns to Seoul.

Hyun met with the North Korean leader to discuss inter-Korean tourism projects in 2005 and 2007.  [KBS World]