SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The South Korean government confirmed on Thursday that North Korea is currently in the process of demolishing a property constructed by South Korea, previously utilized as a venue for hosting reunions of families separated during the 1950-53 Korean War. This development marks yet another episode in the ongoing eradication of symbols of engagement between the two war-divided nations. Presently, inter-Korean relations find themselves beset by their most strained period in recent memory, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un persisting in showcasing the expansion of his nuclear weapons program. Furthermore, Kim has announced intentions to forsake long-established aspirations for inter-Korean reconciliation, labeling the South as a perpetual adversary.
The structure under demolition stands tall at the North’s picturesque Diamond Mountain resort, featuring 206 rooms and banquet facilities designed to facilitate meetings. Since its establishment in 2009, the building has served as a venue for family reunions. The most recent of these reunions took place in 2018, following Kim’s diplomatic overtures towards Seoul and Washington, wherein he sought to leverage his nuclear program to secure economic advantages. However, negotiations faltered in 2019 after a critical summit between Kim and then-U.S. President Donald Trump, during which the North’s stipulations for substantial relief from U.S.-imposed economic sanctions in exchange for a partial dismantling of its nuclear capabilities were rebuffed. Subsequently, North Korea has virtually halted all diplomatic engagements with the South, disregarding U.S. appeals to resume negotiations, all while accelerating the development of its nuclear arsenal and missile technology.
The South Korean Unification Ministry, responsible for inter-Korean affairs, officially acknowledged the demolition of the building, known as the Reunion Center for the Separated Families, and called upon North Korea to cease its destructive activities. Notably, the North had previously razed a hotel, a golf course, and various other tourist amenities constructed by South Korea within the Diamond Mountain resort.
In response to these actions, the Unification Ministry expressed its stance, declaring, “Demolishing the reunion center is an act against humanity that crushes the yearning of separated families, as well as a grave infringement of our state-owned property.” The ministry further indicated that the South Korean government will explore potential countermeasures, including legal avenues and international pressure. However, the effectiveness of such measures remains uncertain, as the extent of Seoul’s capacity to influence North Korea through legal channels is dubious.
In a separate legal development, South Korea initiated a 44.7 billion won ($30 million) damage lawsuit against North Korea for the destruction of a joint liaison office situated just north of their shared border in 2020. Notably, this lawsuit is largely symbolic, as there exists no clear mechanism for enforcing payment by North Korea in the event of a finding of liability for damages.
