Historic sites in North Korea’s border city of Kaesong are almost certain to be added to the world heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), according to the U.N. body’s Web site Monday.
The historic monuments and sites in the ancient North Korean tourist city of Gaeseong were recommended for registration on the world heritage list by an advisory panel conducting on-site surveys of nominations for UNESCO.
UNESCO unveiled a report on the result of the surveys conducted by the Paris-based International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) ahead of the 37th World Heritage Committee (WHC) meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from June 16-27.
The results of the non-governmental body’s examinations of nominations have a decisive influence on the UNESCO’s decision on new world heritage listings.
Pyongyang requested that the many monuments of the city be registered as a global heritage in mid-2012.
Gaeseong was the capital of the Goryeo Dynasty that ruled the Korean Peninsula from 918 until 1392 when it was replaced by the Joseon Dynasty.
In 2004, North Korea added tombs of the ancient Korean kingdom of Koguryo (37 B.C.-668 A.D.) to the world heritage list.
The historic monuments and sites in Gaeseong, when officially designated during the WHC session, will become the second world heritage listing for the North and the 12th on the Korean Peninsula.
The nominated property is located within the built-up area of Gaeseong and extends into the foothills of the mountainous area to the west of the town, according to the ICOMOS report, available on UNESCO Web site.
They comprise 12 separate property components, including five separate sections of the Gaeseong City Walls.
The report said the other seven are the Manwoldae Palace archaeological site and remains of the Gaeseong Chomsongdae, an astronomical and meteorological observatory; the Gaeseong Namdae Gate, the main southern city gate; Goryeo Songgyungwan, a former high state education institute where Koryo national officials were educated; Sungyang Sowon, a Confucian private school; Sonjuk Bridge and Phyochung Monuments, the latter being two commemorative steles; the Mausoleum of King Wang Geon, the founder of the Goryeo Dynasty, with seven associated tomb clusters and the Myongrung tomb cluster; and the Mausoleum of King Gongmin, the 318th king of Goryeo.
The monuments and sites "exhibit the synthesis of cultural, spiritual and political values of pre-existing states unified under the Goryeo and the interchange of such values with other neighboring states," the report said.