North Korea has almost completely torn down a South Korean government-built hotel previously used for inter-Korean family reunions, satellite imagery shows, part of leader Kim Jong Un’s project to erase ROK infrastructure and forbid further contacts with the South.

NK Pro analysis of Planet Labs imagery shows the east tower of the Inter-Korean Family Reunions Center was dismantled in October, followed by the west tower in the last two months. Only the elevator shaft of the 12-story building remained standing as of Dec. 21.

The South Korean government spent around 50 billion KRW (US$37 million) in 2008 to build the hotel, located in the Mount Kumgang tourist area near the border on the east coast.

South Korea’s Hyundai Asan subsequently operated the facility. It last hosted inter-Korean family reunions during a period of detente in Aug. 2018.

North Korea is also gradually tearing down the ROK-built inter-Korean liaison office building in the Kaesong Industrial Complex at the western end of the border.

The dismantlement operations this year appear to be not only efforts to recycle high-quality building materials, but also a symbolic move to show Pyongyang is following through with its vow to completely cut ties with South Korea.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un inspected various ROK-built facilities in Kumgang in 2019, criticizing them as “unpleasant-looking” and promising to remove them and rebuild the area in North Korean style. Most South Korean facilities have since been demolished, like a golf course, floating hotel, hot springs resort and various other lodgings.

Kim also declared the end of Pyongyang’s nearly 80-year policy of pursuing unification with the South in late 2023, and has since worked to significantly refortify the inter-Korean border inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ).

South Korean tourism to the Mount Kumgang area ran for a decade between 1998 and 2008, until Seoul terminated tours following the fatal shooting of an ROK tourist at the site by a North Korean soldier.

While Hyundai Asan has signaled its interest in resuming inter-Korean tourism projects, Pyongyang has expressed no interest in doing so as it continues to shun all engagement with Seoul.

Edited by Bryan Betts