North Korea Urgently Notifies Delay in Demolition of Geumgangsan Facilities Due to Wuhan Pneumonia Concerns

Fax with Direct Line between Seoul and Pyongyang
Announced in the Name of Kumgangsan International Tourism Bureau

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un conducted an on-site inspection of the Mount Kumgang tourist area and ordered the dismantling of South Korean facilities installed in Mount Kumgang, the Korean Central News Agency reported on October 23 last year.

North Korea has notified the South that it will temporarily postpone the dismantling of facilities in the Mount Kumgang tourism zone to focus on preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

On the 31st, Yeosang-gi, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, stated at a regular briefing, "On the 30th around 11 p.m., North Korea informed us via fax connected through the direct phone line between Seoul and Pyongyang that they will postpone the dismantling schedule of the Mount Kumgang zone for the time being in order to prevent the risk of transmission of the novel coronavirus infection, under the name of the Mount Kumgang International Tourism Bureau."

Earlier on the 30th, the South and North Korean authorities agreed to temporarily suspend operations of the Kaesong liaison office as a preventive measure against the spread of Wuhan pneumonia, and instead decided to establish a separate phone and fax line between Seoul and Pyongyang.

It is reported that the government has not sent a reply to North Korea's notification. Spokesperson Ye said, "We received the notification document yesterday, and whether we have sent a reply has not yet been confirmed." He explained, "So far, the South and North have continued consultations on the Mount Kumgang issue through document negotiations and other methods," adding, "Further consultations are needed to decide when to resume discussions."

North Korea has demanded 'complete dismantling of facilities and document negotiations' since Chairman Kim Jong-un inspected Mount Kumgang on October 23 last year (according to North Korean media reports) and ordered, "Remove the shabby South Korean facilities that are unpleasant to look at." At the end of last month, North Korea also sent a notification to the South through the Kaesong inter-Korean joint liaison office demanding that all South Korean facilities in Mount Kumgang be dismantled by February.

Meanwhile, on the 30th around 10:30 p.m., the South and North confirmed the connection status through a test call on the direct phone line between Seoul and Pyongyang, which was installed instead of the liaison office. Both sides agreed to operate the communication system from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and accordingly, a call was conducted at 9 a.m. on the 31st.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.