North Korea informed its citizens about Mount Kumgang’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List three days after the announcement was made.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Wednesday that Mount Kumgang had been registered as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. This news came following the decision made at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, on Sunday.
The newspaper reported that the committee recognized Mount Kumgang as a world-class cultural and natural landscape that harmoniously blends cultural traditions, natural ecosystems, and scenic beauty, and decided to register it as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Describing Mount Kumgang, the newspaper boasted of its unique natural beauty, including the scenic landscapes of Inner Kumgang, Outer Kumgang, and Hae Kumgang, as well as 12,000 peaks with bizarre rock formations, beautiful waterfalls, ponds, lakes, fresh air, crystal-clear waters, and seasonal color changes. It also highlighted the mountain’s diverse flora and fauna, ancient temples and temple sites, cultural heritage including stone carvings, and intangible heritage such as the legends of Mount Kumgang.
The article went on to emphasize that Mount Kumgang’s UNESCO World Heritage registration confirms the legitimacy and vitality of the party’s Juche-oriented cultural heritage protection policy. It further explained that the country’s renowned mountain, boasting a long history, rich culture, and unparalleled natural beauty, will gain further fame as a shared treasure of humanity and a world-class tourist destination.
Previously, on Sunday, UNESCO inscribed Mount Kumgang (also known as Mt. Kumgang, or Diamond Mountain from the Sea) on the World Heritage List during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. North Korea had applied for Mount Kumgang to be recognized as a mixed heritage, combining both cultural and natural heritage elements.
North Korea initially submitted its World Heritage application in 2021, but the evaluation process was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, North Korea has three World Heritage sites: the Complex of Koguryo Tombs (2004), the Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong (2013), and now Mount Kumgang.