Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik says that as security-related policies will affect the citizens at times, he asked them to endure the inconveniences caused by the four-year suspension of tours to Mount Geumgang.

When asked by Democratic United Party Representative Shim Jae-kwon whether the government will designate North Korea’s Mount Geumgang area as a special disaster zone, Yu answered that it is regrettable that there is no legal ground for the government to compensate South Korean businesses for their losses.

South Korea had suspended tours to Mount Geumgang after a South Korean tourist was shot dead in July 2008 at the scenic mountain resort. In protest, the North announced its confiscation and freezing of South Korean assets at the resort in 2010.

However, Yu said that if Pyongyang agrees to guarantee the safety of South Korean tourists visiting Mount Geumgang, Seoul will hold working-level talks with the North to resume the tours.