![This image of tourists at the Kalma coastal tourist zone in Wonsan was captured from Korean Central Television on July 16. [YONHAP]](https://www.koreadailyus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/0721-triptoNorth.jpg)
South Korea is considering new measures to improve relations with North Korea, including the potential resumption of individual visits to the North, the Unification Ministry said On July 21.
“The government is formulating and pursuing North Korea policies with the goal of easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and improving inter-Korean ties, with various measures under consideration,” the ministry stated in a press release.
The ministry’s comment came after a report from the Dong-A Ilbo suggested that President Lee Jae-myung proposed allowing individual trips to North Korea during a National Security Council meeting on July 10.
According to the report, the administration has since launched a review to assess the feasibility and implications of the idea. A senior government official reportedly described the process as a “long-term” initiative.
![This image of tourists at the Kalma coastal tourist zone in Wonsan was captured from Korean Central Television on July 20. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/07/21/bc2855cd-93c2-474b-a2c1-3a4f7325d96c.jpg)
Individual tourism to the North was once seen as a key symbol of reconciliation between the two Koreas. However, such visits were halted in 2008 after a South Korean tourist was fatally shot by North Korean soldiers at the Mount Kumgang resort. Pyongyang claimed the tourist had entered a restricted military zone.
At a press briefing, Unification Ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam stated that individual trips paid for on a per-expense basis do not violate United Nations Security Council sanctions.
While the sanctions ban financial services and bulk cash transfers that could support North Korea’s nuclear or missile programs, Koo emphasized that individual travel under regulated conditions remains legally permissible.
Following the lifting of its COVID-19 border restrictions, North Korea has resumed train and flight services with Russia and China. The regime appears to be seeking ways to attract foreign tourists in order to generate hard currency. Earlier this month, Pyongyang opened the Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone in Wonsan, signaling an interest in revitalizing its tourism sector.
BY MOOYOUNG LEE [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]
