North Korea was confirmed to have demolished a fire station, a property of the South Korean government within the Kumgangsan tourist region. This marks the first time that North Korea has demolished South Korea’s property in Kumgangsan.
Koo Byung Sam, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, expressed strong regret on May 10 through a statement, saying, “The government strongly regrets that North Korea has demolished the fire station our government set up in the Kumgangsan region.” The Ministry of Unification understood that North Korea began the demolition last year and completed the work at the end of April. The fire station was located in the Onjeong-ri Jopo Village area within the Kumgangsan region. Its land area is 49,000 square feet, the building area is 5,490 square feet, and the total floor area is 9,580 square feet with a basement floor and two above-ground floors.
Koo stated, “The government sternly demands that North Korea immediately halt its demolition of our facilities,” and added, “North Korea’s demolition cannot be justified under any pretext, and all responsibility for this situation, including infringement of our government’s property rights, rests solely with the North Korean authorities.”
The government is planning to review legal measures against North Korea’s demolition of the fire station.
