Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
S. Korea proposes inter-Korean talks over removal of Mount Geumgang facilities
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects Mount Geumgang with his wife Ri Sol-ju in this photo released by the North's state-run Korean Central Television on Aug. 23. Yonhap
By Lee Min-hyung
By Lee Min-hyung
South Korea proposed to hold working-level talks with North Korea after Pyongyang notified Seoul of its decision to discuss the fate of South Korean-built structures and facilities on Mount Geumgang, Seoul's Ministry of Unification said Monday.
A few days ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered his staff to remove all South Korean facilities from a resort on Mount Geumgang in North Korea.
“The unilateral action on South Korean property goes against the public sentiment and may tarnish inter-Korean relations, so it is necessary for the relevant authorities of the two countries to have a candid consultation and resolve the issue in a reasonable manner,” the ministry said in a statement.
Tourism to the mountain was suspended in 2008 after a South Korean female tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.
“Details, such as the location, timeline and schedule over the (possible) working-level talks, will be announced after discussion with the North,” an official from the ministry said, adding discussions over the issue are still underway between the two Koreas via the inter-Korean liaison office in the North's Gaeseong.
According to the ministry the South Korean delegation for the possibly upcoming dialogue would include officials from the ministry and Hyundai Asan ― who built major resort facilities on Mount Geumgang.
Unification ministry spokesman Lee Sang-min said in a briefing the ministry also offered to bring businesspeople engaging in the tourism industry to the proposed inter-Korean dialogue to discuss new development plans for the mountain.
The South Korean unification authority underlined the need to solve any inter-Korean affairs in a peaceful manner. “We are going to come up with a creative solution to resolve the issue,” he said.
The government hopes to turn the latest incident into a chance to find what it calls a “creative solution” to revive inter-Korean talks.