N. Korean Olympic delegation to use a land route of Mt. Kumgang

At inter-Korean talks on Tuesday, North Korea will reportedly reveal its plan to send a delegation to next month's Winter Olympics in South Korea via a land route of Mount Kumgang.

According to a diplomatic source in Beijing, North Korean delegation and athletes will pass the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) between the two Koreas via a road from Mount Kumgang to Goseong. The North had reviewed a plan to cross the sea by taking the Man Gyong Bong 92 ferry, but decided to use a land route, which the two Koreas will discuss at Tuesday’s inter-Korean talks, the source added. If South and North Korea reach an agreement on Tuesday, the two Koreas will have people come and go via a land route of Mount Kumgang, which comes 27 months after the reunion of separated families held at Mount Kumgang in October 2015.

The land route of Mount Kumgang is not only easy for North Korea to move to the Olympic venue, but could also be a subject of North Korea’s strategy on attracting investment in the Wonsan region, which connects Pyeongchang and North Korea’s Masikryong Ski Resort. On Tuesday, the two Koreas are expected to discuss a future reunion of separated families at Mount Kumgang.

Wan-Jun Yun zeitung@donga.com