This commentary reflects the personal views of the author and does not represent the perspective of the National Committee on North Korea.

In his 2020 New Year’s Address, South Korean President Moon Jae-in emphasized “the need to find realistic ways to further advance inter-Korean cooperation,” even in the absence of progress in U.S. nuclear talks with North Korea. In a press conference later that week, President Moon said that facilitating individual South Korean tourist travel to the North could be one such measure.

The initiative appears to remain in an embryonic stage, but South Korea’s Unification Ministry has said