DMZ Tourism: Koreas Plan To Transform Fortified Zone Into Tourist Attraction

A council was launched Thursday by South Korea in an attempt to transform the heavily-guarded demilitarized zone (DMZ) into a tourist attraction. The decision was taken following North and South Korean leaders' historic summit in Pyongyang.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization signed an agreement to push for development of the area that separates South and North Korea into a peace tourism site, Yonhap news agency reported.

The agreement stated a system will be put in place to cooperate for vitalization of the DMZ as a tourist attraction and jointly create new tourism content while seeking sustainable development. The council will be headed by Vice Culture Minister Roh Tae-Kang, Yonhap reported.

The news came one day after a landmark summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

On Wednesday, Kim agreed to permanently dismantle the North's main long-range missile engine testing facility if the United States agreed to corresponding measures.

"The world is going to see how this divided nation is going to bring about a new future on its own," Kim said to applause from those gathered. Both leaders also "agreed on a way to achieve denuclearization" on the Korean peninsula, Moon said.

"The era of no war has started," said Moon, the first South Korean president to visit Pyongyang since 2007. "Today the North and South decided to remove all threats that can cause war from the entire Korean peninsula."

A military deal was also signed Wednesday to disarm the Joint Security Area in the DMZ and each pull out 11 guard posts on a trial basis by the end of this year.

The two leaders also submitted a joint bid to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

President Donald Trump praised the actions taken by North Korea, adding Kim had also agreed to nuclear inspections.

"Kim Jong Un has agreed to allow Nuclear inspections, subject to final negotiations, and to permanently dismantle a test site and launch pad in the presence of international experts. In the meantime there will be no Rocket or Nuclear testing. Hero remains to continue being," he tweeted.