North Korea has been conducting the demolition work to remove the rooftop structure of the reunion center in the Geumgangsan tourism district for over six months.
The U.S. North Korea-focused media outlet 38 North reported on the 9th (local time) that an analysis of satellite images taken by the Earth observation satellite 'Pleiades Neo' on the 5th confirmed that the rooftop structure of the reunion center building has disappeared.
North Korea reportedly began demolishing the reunion center at the end of last year. The Ministry of Unification stated in February that North Korea started the demolition of the reunion center, noting that it was currently working on removing the observation deck and building exterior walls and tiles on the upper floors of the main building.
The demolition of the Ananti golf club's clubhouse and spa facilities, which are private facilities within the Geumgangsan tourism district, has been completely finished. Satellite images show that those facilities have completely lost their structures, leaving only the foundations.
38 North noted, 'Although the demolition work at the Geumgangsan tourism district is continuing, it is progressing at a pace that suggests it is not a national top priority.'
The reunion center, a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation, was constructed under the agreement reached at the 5th Inter-Korean Red Cross meeting in November 2003, with groundbreaking occurring on August 31, 2005, and a total of 55 billion won invested. It was completed in July 2008 with one basement floor and 12 above-ground floors. It was used for a total of five family reunions.
The Geumgangsan tourism district began demolishing facilities, starting with private properties, after Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, visited Geumgangsan in October 2019 and directed, 'Remove the shabby South Korean facilities that ruin the view, even just by looking at them.'
The reunion center is currently the last remaining facility of our government within the Geumgangsan tourism district.