Dora Observatory to get closer to the North

The Dora Observatory, a South Korean tourist destination in the demilitarized zone from which visitors peer into North Korea, will be moved by the end of next year, the Paju city government said Sunday.

The government of Paju, Gyeonggi, said the observatory will be moved to atop Mount Dora and will offer a wider view of North Korea, including the Kaesong Industrial Complex and the village of Kijong-dong.

The move will cost around 8 billion won ($6.6 million) and will expand the current capacity of 500 tourists. The new building will be 11 meters (36 feet) closer to North Korea.

The city government added that construction will start in July and is supposed to be completed by the end of 2017.

The Dora Observatory, which first opened to the public in 1987, receives 800,000 visitors a year and has become one of the popular stops on tours of the DMZ among South Koreans and foreigners.

BY JEON ICK-JIN [kim.sohee0905@joongang.co.kr]