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Kim Jong-un orders demolition of South Korean-funded buildings at flagship tourist resort

Kim Jong-un has ordered the destruction of South Korean-made hotels and other tourist facilities at the North's Diamond Mountain resort - KCNA via KNS
Kim Jong-un has ordered the destruction of South Korean-made hotels and other tourist facilities at the North's Diamond Mountain resort - KCNA via KNS

Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, has ordered the destruction of all facilities built by South Korea at the Mount Kumgang tourist zone, apparently because of Seoul’s refusal to break ranks with the United States.

Mr Kim visited the resort, which was initially operated by the two nations and was seen as a way of improving cross-border ties, and declared that “all the unpleasant-looking facilities” designed by South Korea should be torn down, state-run media reported.

In their place, North Korean-style “modern service facilities” would be built, he said.

Opened in 1998 as part of efforts to build trust and promote exchanges, around one million South Koreans visited the 204 square-mile resort region, which was also an important source of hard currency for Pyongyang. 

Trips over the border came to a sudden end in July 2008, when a North Korean soldier shot dead a South Korean tourist who had strayed into a restricted zone.

With bilateral ties warming in the last two years, discussions had begun about South Korean tourists returning to Mount Kumgang as a relatively straightforward confidence-building measure.

In their meeting in September, Kim and Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president, agreed that tours should resume as soon as conditions permit.

South Korean invested villas line the coastline of the Mount Kumgang resort, also known as Diamond Mountain, in North Korea. - Credit: AP
South Korean invested villas line the coastline of the Mount Kumgang resort, also known as Diamond Mountain, in North Korea. Credit: AP

Mr Moon has hesitated to approve visits, however, as international sanctions remain in place, including sanctions on economic projects that enable the North to obtain hard currency.

North Korea has stepped up its criticisms of the South in recent weeks, claiming Seoul has failed to meet its commitments to improve bilateral relations.

On Tuesday, North Korean media condemned Seoul’s plans to carry out a series of missile tests and develop new weapons systems, including nuclear-powered submarines, describing the moves as “outright provocations” that would “have consequences”.

It also accused the South of “enhancing its pre-emptive attack capability against the North”.

South Korea’s responses have remained conciliatory, with Suh Ho, the vice unification minister, stating on Tuesday that Seoul remains committed to a “peace economy” that will deepen cross-border economic cooperation and reduce the chances of a return to an era of confrontation.

Mr Moon has proposed removing landmines from the Demilitarised Zone that divides the two nations and transforming it into a “peace zone”, while South Korea has been the largest international donor of humanitarian aid to the North so far this year.

Seoul has provided international aid agencies with US$9 million this year, about 30 per cent of the total international assistance to the North.