De Kumgang Mountains waren ooit een symbool van verbeterde betrekkingen tussen de beide Korea’s, waardoor het (prachtige!) natuurgebied ook vanuit Zuid-Korea bezocht kon worden en Zuid-Koreaanse bedrijven er een heel resort naar westerse standaard gebouwd hebben. Na een incident in 2008 waarbij een Zuid-Koreaanse toeriste op “verboden gebied” doodgeschoten is was de grens echter weer hermetisch gesloten, en waren de Zuid-Koreaanse voorzieningen nagenoeg verlaten. Daar lijkt nu echter verandering in te komen, echter niet op een manier waar men in Seoul op had gehoopt:
**N. Korea unveils business plans for troubled mountain resort
**North Korea unveiled Sunday its business plans to redevelop a troubled mountain resort in the isolated country, after seizing South Korean properties in the complex once considered a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation.
The move is expected to further deepen the dispute over the resort at Mount Kumgang, with South Korea vowing to take all possible measures, including legal action with an international tribunal, against the North’s decision to “legally dispose” of Seoul-owned assets there.
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The plans call for North Korea to redevelop the resort into an international tourist and business zone by building golf courses and hosting casinos from China and Western nations.
Using a railway linking Beijing to Pyongyang and the resort, North Korea plans to attract tourists from the United States, Japan, China and Hong Kong, Park said.
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South and North Korea launched the joint tour program in 1998 as a key symbol of fledging reconciliation on the divided Korean Peninsula.
The cross-border program had served as a cash cow for the North before Seoul halted it in 2008 following the shooting death of a South Korean tourist at the resort.
“N.Korea allowed its people to visit Mount Kumgang from April”
North Korea has reportedly opened the Mount Kumgang resort to its nationals since April after having allowed only a select few to visit the scenic area before with permission.
Pyongyang apparently intends to pressure Seoul by opening the door to the mountain to the North Korean people after failing to attract foreign investment and tourists to the resort.
A Chinese source on North Korea said Tuesday, “North Korea effectively allowed all North Koreans from April to visit the entire Mount Kumgang area, including major rivers in the region.”
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Each visitor should cover his or her own expenses. The estimated cost is around 1,700 North Korean won (1.43 U.S. dollars) for entry and 19 cents per night, so the combined expense amount is 2,500 to 3,000 North Korean won (2.10 to 2.53 dollars).
The source said, “The expenses almost equal a month`s salary but the popularity (of going to Mount Kumgang) has surprised everyone.”