On the 15th, North Korea's demolition of sections of the Gyeongui and Donghae inter-Korean roads heightened military tensions, severely impacting not only security tourism in the border areas but also the livelihoods of local fishermen.
As a result, Paju City in Gyeonggi Province temporarily suspended security tourism in the border area of the western front starting at 9:30 a.m. on the 15th.
According to Paju City officials, at the request of the Army's 1st Division, which oversees the border area, security tourism to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) sites such as Dora Observatory, the 3rd Tunnel, and Tongil Village has been halted.
While tours to Dora Observatory and the 3rd Tunnel were already suspended on the 11th, visits to the 3rd Tunnel had resumed on the 12th. However, following North Korea's destruction of the inter-Korean roads yesterday, operations at all three tourist sites have been suspended once again.
Additionally, the military issued emergency measures, advising the village heads of Tongil Village and Haema Village in Jangdan-myeon—part of the Civilian Control Zone (CCZ)—as well as Daeseong-dong, the only village within the DMZ, to limit residents' movements.
A military official commented, "It is currently unclear when security tourism in the Paju area will resume."
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