Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 26, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
North Korea dismantles a facility at Mount Kumgang used for separated family meetings, escalating tensions with South Korea.
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea is dismantling a facility at its Mount Kumgang resort used for hosting meetings between families separated after the Korean War, South Korea said on Thursday, in the latest sign of strained tensions between the two Koreas.
Seoul's Unification Ministry, which handles affairs between the two Koreas, urged in a statement North Korea to immediately stop the action at the site near the border.
The demolition of the facility is an "anti-humanitarian act that tramples on the wishes of separated families," the ministry said, adding that it would consider legal measures over the action and a joint response with the international community.
North Korea has been escalating its rhetoric against its southern neighbour in recent years, designating South Korea as a "hostile state".
Pyongyang also blew up sections of inter-Korean roads and rail lines on its side of the heavily fortified border last year, which prompted South Korea's military to fire warning shots at the time.
In 2023, Pyongyang scrapped a 2018 military accord designed to curb the risk of inadvertent clashes between two countries that remain technically at war, prompting the South to take a similar step.
Nonetheless, there have been recent signs that North Korea may be prepared to reopen to some foreign visitors for the first time in more than five years since the closure of its borders to tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beijing-based Koryo Tours on Thursday said tours to North Korea were "officially back", with some of its staff allowed to enter the Rason area in what it hoped would mark the relaunch of tourism.
(Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Ed Davies)
North Korea is dismantling a facility at its Mount Kumgang resort that was used for hosting meetings between families separated after the Korean War.
South Korea's Unification Ministry has urged North Korea to immediately stop the demolition, calling it an anti-humanitarian act.
North Korea has escalated its rhetoric against South Korea, designating it as a 'hostile state' and taking actions like blowing up inter-Korean roads.
There have been signs that North Korea may reopen to foreign visitors, with Beijing-based Koryo Tours announcing that tours to North Korea are 'officially back.'
The South Korean government has indicated it may consider legal measures regarding the demolition of the family reunion facility.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
