North Korea raises issue of Mount Geumgang complex again

North Korean Premier Kim Tok-hun, center, speaks during his visit to the formerly jointly-run resort complex on Mount Geumgang in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency, Sunday. Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

North Korea's top economic policymaker re-affirmed Sunday the country's commitment to develop an abandoned inter-Korean resort complex on Mount Geumgang on its own, fueling speculation over the motive behind the statement.

South Korean analysts say such a reaffirmation is associated with the eighth congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) to be held in January, during which a new five-year economic development plan is expected to be announced

"The development plan is believed to include tourism, considering Kim apparently has prioritized it as a growth engine," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. "The Mount Geumgang resort complex has been a major part of the North's tourism and it makes sense for an official to say what the country is going to do about it, especially considering the complex has been abandoned for years."

The professor referred to North Korean Premier Kim Tok-hun calling for transforming the Mount Geumgang resort complex into a "modern and all-inclusive international tourist and cultural area" during his visit there.

In a message carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KNCA), Sunday, Kim, who oversees the North's economic affairs, said the transformation will be made "our own way."

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In September 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the removal South Korean built resort facilities from Mount Geumgang in what was seen as an attempt to press Seoul to defy international sanctions.

Kim said the resort should be re-built "our own way that goes well with the natural scenery" of Mount Geumgang.

The order, however, was not carried out by the reclusive state that still makes dubious claims of having zero cases of COVID-19 despite cries of a nationwide fight against the pandemic.

"The premier's visit demonstrates that Kim Jong-un's order remains effective and that his men are willing to put it into action," said An Chan-il, head of the World Institute for North Korea Studies.

An speculated the premier was sent to the resort area to inspect and come up with possible measures to execute the envisioned economic development plan.

According to the KNCA, Kim discussed design, construction and other "technical matters" in relation to the resort in order to "accurately reflect" the WPK's master economic plan.

Asked if the North will tear down the existing facilities, Yang said it is too early to say when.

"The North has not visualized its five-year economic development plan, and moreover, the pandemic is making it difficult to mobilize workers to demolish the facilities," he said. "It will not be until the second year of the plan for Pyongyang to bring up issues of demolition and press Seoul again."

The two Koreas began the joint tourism complex in 1998. It has been suspended since 2008 when a female tourist from the South was shot dead by a North Korean soldier for reportedly wandering into a military zone.