Data on the tour program to North Korea's Mount Geumgang show that the Seoul government inspected the tour areas three times this year, but should have paid more attention to tourist safety measures.

Relevant government agencies conducted joint inspection at the mountain resort in January, March and June mainly on fire prevention and road conditions. But they didn't thoroughly examine the risks of South Korean tourists trespassing in off-limit military areas.

The Unification Ministry and the National Emergency Management Agency inspected fire fighting facilities at Geumgang in January. The ministry and the Korea Expressway Corporation checked road conditions of the inner Geumgang area and the Guryong Falls in March.

Inspections focused on facilities alone leaving tourist safety concerns by the wayside.