Seoul convenes task force on Mount Kumgang

Seoul convened an emergency task force yesterday at the Central Government Complex to consider “legal and diplomatic measures” after North Korea earlier this week evicted all remaining South Koreans from the Mount Kumgang resort.

North Korea is preparing to turn over the mountain resort to a third party and restart international tourism, which has left South Korean contractors high and dry with nothing to account for their millions of won in investments.

Headed by an official from the Ministry of Unification, the task force includes representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The South Korean government says it has yet to abandon all hope for the resumption of cross-border tourism, believing it would be difficult for North Korea to attract foreign investors to the resort.

“What country, what company, what person would trust and invest in North Korea after it abandoned what little trust it received?” asked Unification Minister Hyun In-taek yesterday at a separate event.

By Christine Kim [christine.kim@joongang.co.kr]