N. Korea's Mount Kumgang likely to win UNESCO World Heritage status after 4-year bid

This file photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central Television on Oct. 24, 2023, shows Mount Kumgang. Yonhap

North Korea's Mount Kumgang is expected to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site following a four-year application process, UNESCO said Tuesday.

Mount Kumgang has long been regarded as one of Korea's most scenic mountains for its breathtaking beauty that changes with the seasons.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which serve as advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee, have recommended the inclusion of Mount Kumgang on the UNESCO World Heritage list, according to UNESCO.

The official name submitted by North Korea is Mt. Kumgang - Diamond Mountain from the Sea.

North Korea submitted its application for World Heritage inscription in 2021, but the site's review was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The evaluation resumed this year.