North Korea objects to South’s bid to designate border islands as UNESCO Geopark



News North Korea objects to South’s bid to designate border islands as UNESCO Geopark DPRK’s protest halts effort to recognize Yellow Sea islands, potentially as part of attempt to challenge maritime border Jooheon Kim May 23, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Rocks on Daecheong Island \| Image: Incheon Metropolitan Government (May 22, 2025) A South Korean bid to designate west coast border islands as a UNESCO Global Geopark has been halted after North Korea lodged a formal objection, the Incheon Metropolitan Government said Thursday, possibly in an attempt to challenge the inter-Korean maritime border. According to its press release, Pyongyang submitted a written protest to UNESCO on Monday opposing the designation of Baengnyeong, Daecheong and Socheong islands to help conserve and promote their geological heritage. A South Korean bid to designate west coast border islands as a UNESCO Global Geopark has been halted after North Korea lodged a formal objection, the Incheon Metropolitan Government said Thursday, possibly in an attempt to challenge the inter-Korean maritime border. According to its press release, Pyongyang submitted a written protest to UNESCO on Monday opposing the designation of Baengnyeong, Daecheong and Socheong islands to help conserve and promote their geological heritage. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

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North Korea objects to South’s bid to designate border islands as UNESCO Geopark

DPRK’s protest halts effort to recognize Yellow Sea islands, potentially as part of attempt to challenge maritime border

Jooheon Kim May 23, 2025

North Korea objects to South’s bid to designate border islands as UNESCO Geopark

Rocks on Daecheong Island | Image: Incheon Metropolitan Government (May 22, 2025)

A South Korean bid to designate west coast border islands as a UNESCO Global Geopark has been halted after North Korea lodged a formal objection, the Incheon Metropolitan Government said Thursday, possibly in an attempt to challenge the inter-Korean maritime border.

According to its press release, Pyongyang submitted a written protest to UNESCO on Monday opposing the designation of Baengnyeong, Daecheong and Socheong islands to help conserve and promote their geological heritage.

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North Korea objects to South’s bid to designate border islands as UNESCO Geopark

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