Government "Considering Small-Scale Pilot Tour of Panmunjom" Resumption Imminent

African Swine Fever Situation Calms... Possible as Early as June
Preliminary Preparations Completed Including Simplified Entry Procedures
Kim Yeon-cheol "Panmunjom Also an Important Tourist Resource for North Korea"

Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul visited Panmunjom in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on the 6th to inspect the tour course related to the preparation status for the Panmunjom tour.

The government, pushing forward with inter-Korean cooperation projects, is expected to resume tours of Panmunjom as early as June.

On the 29th, Cho Hye-sil, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office, "We are considering conducting pilot tours of Panmunjom in small groups, reflecting the results of quarantine investigations and the opinions of health authorities on thorough quarantine measures."

Deputy Spokesperson Cho explained, "On the 25th, health authorities conducted an on-site inspection for African Swine Fever (ASF) in the Panmunjom area," adding, "We received a verbal notification that the first round of sample tests by the health authorities came back 'negative.'"

The government has cited the containment of ASF in the area as a condition for resuming Panmunjom tours. Accordingly, the resumption of tours is expected to gain momentum. Last fall, when ASF rapidly spread in the border area, the government, in consultation with the United Nations Command overseeing the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), temporarily suspended Panmunjom tours and the opening of the 'DMZ Peace Trail,' a practical project for peace settlement in the DMZ.

June is considered the most likely time for the resumption of Panmunjom tours. Deputy Spokesperson Cho said, "Minister of Unification Kim Yeon-chul has stated that they are aiming to resume tours in June after comprehensively reviewing the ASF situation in the DMZ Panmunjom area and the opinions of health authorities," adding, "We will continue to review the situation comprehensively."

As part of preparations for resuming Panmunjom tours, the government has also simplified entry procedures. The overall Panmunjom tour process will be streamlined to provide integrated services, and the DMZ area will be developed and opened as a cultural space for peaceful unification. On the 28th, the Ministry of Unification held the 2nd Active Administration Support Committee meeting, where the '2020 Ministry of Unification Active Administration Implementation Plan' containing these details was reviewed and approved.

Earlier, the Ministry of Unification also announced that it is in consultation with the United Nations Command to shorten the Joint Security Area (JSA) entry approval process from about 14 days for the general public to 3 days as part of the Panmunjom entry procedure simplification plan.

Meanwhile, regarding concerns that recent shootings between the South and North in the DMZ could threaten tourist safety, the Ministry of Unification maintains that there is no problem. Minister Kim said in a meeting with reporters on the 7th about Panmunjom tourism safety, "Panmunjom is quite different from the central front line where the recent shooting incidents occurred," adding, "Panmunjom has traditionally been a very important tourist resource even from North Korea's perspective."

Seoho, Vice Minister of Unification, visited Daeseong-dong Village near Panmunjom on the 26th with the Cultural Heritage Administration investigation team to promote the registration of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a UNESCO World Heritage site, inspecting the Taegeukgi flag replacement site.