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DPRK announces unilateral resumption of cross-border tours

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will resume cross-border tours this month regardless of opposition from the Republic of Korea , the state news agency KCNA reported on March 4.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will resume cross-border toursthis month regardless of opposition from the Republic of Korea , the state newsagency KCNA reported on March 4.

A spokesman of the DPRK’s Asia-PacificPeace Committee said in a statement that it would reopen the Kaesong area totourists starting in March and Mount Kumgang starting in April.

Servicesand safety would be fully provided for tourists entering the DPRK from thesouth, the spokesman said.

Tours to Mount Kumgang were suspended after aDPRK sentinel shot dead a RoK tourist after she allegedly strayed into anoff-limits zone in July 2008. Tours to Kaesong were suspended shortly afterwardamid strained inter-Korean relations.

Both sides resumed working-leveltalks on Feb.8 this year on the resumption of tours but failed to narrowdifferences on major issues, including the insurance of safety for RoKtourists.

In his statement, the DPRK spokesman said the RoK’s continuedblocking of the tours would compel the DPRK to “take decisive measures,” such asabrogating all agreements and contracts on tourism provided by the DPRK to thesouthern side as special benefits and freezing real estate owned by the south inthe tourist areas.

Following the announcement, the RoK Ministry ofUnification reaffirmed that a guarantee of safety for RoK tourists remains theprerequisite for resuming cross-border tours./.
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