North Korea Destroys South Korea's Golf Course Clubhouse On Mount Kumgang Resort

Kumgangsan Hotel in the Mount Kumgang resort area (Wikimedia Commons Clay Gilliland)

JAKARTA - South Korea's Unification Ministry on Monday said North Korea had destroyed a golf clubhouse built by a South Korean company at the Mount Kumgang resort, leaving only a few facilities intact.

"Most of the facilities in the special tourist area of Mount Kumgang have been demolished or are being demolished, with the demolition believed to be underway at the Clubhouse of the Ananti Golf Resort," said ministry spokesman Koo Byoung-sam at a press conference, quoted from The Korea Times December 5.

"Only a few facilities, including meeting places for separate families, are believed to have not been destroyed," he said.

This marks the latest demolition of a series of demolitions by North Korea in the Mount Kumgang tourist area.

The area was built in 2002 to welcome South Korean tourists to a beautiful mountain on North Korea's east coast, which was once considered a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation.

Since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered officials to knock down all "unfavorable-looking" facilities built by South Korea during his visit to the mountain resort in 2019, North Korea has dismantled facilities in the area one by one.

Leader Kim's visit comes shortly after his summit with then-US President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam ended without concrete results earlier that year.

In May, North Korea knocked down the fire station in the resort area, which was built with the South Korean government's budget.

"The government will firmly hold North Korea accountable for actions that violate the rights of our government and company, no matter how long it takes," the ministry spokesman said.

Referring to Russia's recent invitation to North Korean troops to attend its military parade marking 80th Victory Day in May next year, Koo said the North Korean military had never participated in the celebration of Russia's previous Victory Day.