Kumgangsan Tourist Region
Encyclopedia
The Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region is a special administrative region of North Korea
. It was established in 2002 to handle South Korea
n tourist traffic to Kŭmgangsan
(Diamond Mountain).
Since 1998, South Korean and foreign tourists have been allowed to visit Kŭmgangsan, traveling at first by cruise ship, but more recently by bus on a newly built road through the Korean Demilitarized Zone
. In 2002, the area around the mountain was separated from Kangwon-do and organized as a separately administered Tourist Region, covering 204.6 square miles (529.9 km²). Since 1998 over one million South Koreans have visited the resort.
In July 2008, Park Wang-ja, a 53 year old South Korean tourist, was shot twice and killed when she entered a military area, according to the North Korean government
. The South Korean request for a joint inquiry was denied. Forensic tests done on Wang-ja suggest that she was standing still or walking slowly when shot. This contradicted the North Korean claim that she was running and did not heed warnings. Immediately after the shooting, the South Korean government temporarily suspended tours to the resort. In August 2008 the North Koreans announced that they would expel "unnecessary" South Korean workers from the resort. Before the closing of access after the 2008 shooting, a few Americans were also allowed to visit, by arranging 2½-day tours through a South Korean tourism agency.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. It was established in 2002 to handle South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n tourist traffic to Kŭmgangsan
Kumgangsan
Kŭmgangsan , Geumgangsan, or Mount Geumgang is a -high mountain in Kangwon-do, North Korea. Its name means "a firm heart in the face of truth". It is about 50 km away from South Korea's Sokcho in Gangwon-do. It is one of the best-known mountains in North Korea...
(Diamond Mountain).
Since 1998, South Korean and foreign tourists have been allowed to visit Kŭmgangsan, traveling at first by cruise ship, but more recently by bus on a newly built road through the Korean Demilitarized Zone
Korean Demilitarized Zone
The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
. In 2002, the area around the mountain was separated from Kangwon-do and organized as a separately administered Tourist Region, covering 204.6 square miles (529.9 km²). Since 1998 over one million South Koreans have visited the resort.
In July 2008, Park Wang-ja, a 53 year old South Korean tourist, was shot twice and killed when she entered a military area, according to the North Korean government
Government of North Korea
The North Korean government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il....
. The South Korean request for a joint inquiry was denied. Forensic tests done on Wang-ja suggest that she was standing still or walking slowly when shot. This contradicted the North Korean claim that she was running and did not heed warnings. Immediately after the shooting, the South Korean government temporarily suspended tours to the resort. In August 2008 the North Koreans announced that they would expel "unnecessary" South Korean workers from the resort. Before the closing of access after the 2008 shooting, a few Americans were also allowed to visit, by arranging 2½-day tours through a South Korean tourism agency.
External links
- Mt. KumGang, organizes tours from South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
to Kumgangsan (Korean only). - Hyundai Asan, the company behind the tours.