North Korea continues to dismantle the Inter-Korean Separated Family Reunion Center, a South Korean government facility located within the Mount Kumgang Tourist Region, as confirmed on Friday.
Despite the Lee Jae Myung administration’s repeated expressions of intent to improve inter-Korean relations since taking office earlier this month, the ongoing demolition is being interpreted as a sign that North Korea intends to maintain its hostile policy toward the South.
According to NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs, satellite images taken by the private company Planet Labs suggest that North Korea resumed demolition work on the facility between April 26 and 30, following a temporary pause.
Satellite imagery taken on June 12 shows that within a few weeks, the building’s roof structure and glass skylights had been removed, indicating that dismantling work is underway.
North Korea’s demolition of the reunion center was first detected in late 2022. In February, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification stated that North Korea had removed the observation deck on the top floor of the main building, as well as the outer walls and tiles. It urged Pyongyang to halt the dismantling process.
The demolition has since proceeded at a slow pace, which observers believe reflects an effort to salvage and reuse materials from the structure.
NK News noted that North Korea’s continuation of the demolition, even after the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration, reflects Pyongyang’s commitment to maintaining a confrontational posture toward the South.
Following his election, President Lee took steps to ease tensions by requesting that civilian groups halt the distribution of anti-North Korea leaflets and ordering the military to suspend loudspeaker broadcasts across the border, which had resumed a year ago. However, aside from suspending its loudspeaker operations, North Korea has not issued any significant response.
Pyongyang’s future stance may be clarified at the upcoming plenary session of the Workers’ Party later this month. The meeting is expected to review key national projects carried out during the first half of the year and lay out policy directions for the second half, potentially including new approaches toward South Korea and the United States.
