In this file photo, Union Minister Lee In-young, South Korea’s most important man for inter-Korean relations, speaks to reporters at the government complex in Seoul on February 1, 2021. (Yonhap)

Unification Minister Lee In-young said Thursday the government would press to resume long-term trips to North Korea on an individual basis once the pandemic subsides. This is “the best way to break the borders between South and North Koreans”.

“There are still many South Koreans who want to visit Mount Kumgang, even though it has been more than 10 years since its suspension,” he said, pointing out that such an exchange can help restore “national homogeneity”.

“The government will prepare various matters to resume individual tours of Mount Kumgang once the COVID-19 situation eases,” he said.

He also urged the international community to take a flexible approach to sanctions to enable individual tourism to North Korea.

Seoul has been trying to allow individual trips to the north since President Moon Jae-in cited it as a possible cross-border project that could be pursued to expand exchanges and cooperation without violating international sanctions against Pyongyang.

The idea of ​​individual tourism to North Korea arose as a “creative” alternative to the long-suspended tour project on Mount Kumgang on the northeast coast. The program ended in 2008 after a South Korean traveler was shot dead near the resort. (Yonhap)

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