ADADSouth Korean officials held back direct criticism on Kim’s remarks, saying they need to take a closer look at the North’s intent. Tours to Diamond Mountain were a major symbol of cooperation between the Koreas before the South suspended them in 2008 after a North Korean guard fatally shot a South Korean tourist there. ADSeoul can’t restart inter-Korean economic activities without defying sanctions against Pyongyang, which have been strengthened since 2016 when the North began speeding up its nuclear development. North Korea said it froze and confiscated all South Korean properties at the resort in 2010 after blaming Seoul for the continued suspension in tours. The North in recent months suspended virtually all diplomacy and cooperation with the South while demanding that Seoul breaks away from ally Washington and restart inter-Korean economic activities.

Source: Washington Post October 23, 2019 00:45 UTC