KOREA. The tragic shooting of a South Korean tourist has resulted in the suspension of tours to the Geumgangsan Mountains zone in North Korea, home to the Korea Tourism Organization’s Geumgangsan Duty Free Shop. The incident has raised tensions once again on the Korean peninsula.
In November 1998 the North Korean regime first allowed visitors from long-separated South Korea to visit the mountains. There a small shop and restaurant was first set up and run by South Korean company Hyundai Asan in the West Onjeonggak area.
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Happier days in May 2007 as Korea Tourism Organization celebrates the opening of the Geumgangsan Duty Free Shop |
As reported, Korea Tourism Organization subsequently opened an 843sq m duty free store for South Korean travellers in the special zone in May 2007.
But last week’s shooting has brought a stop to that business, at least temporarily, and raised the heat between the two regimes.
According to local reports a North Korean soldier shot the 53-year-old woman after she strayed into a restricted area.
Unification Ministry official Kim Ho-nyoun said South Korea would suspend future tours until it completes an investigation.
The shooting came just hours after South Korea’s new President Lee Myung-bak called for restored contacts between the two Koreas – suspended since he took office in February.
North Korea today rejected that offer. State media said that Lee was trying to avoid his personal responsibility for the countries’ strained relations.
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