Pyongyang: North Korea's Mount Kumgang is on the brink of being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site after a four-year application process, according to UNESCO on Tuesday. The mountain is celebrated for its scenic splendor, which varies with the seasons, making it one of Korea's most picturesque landscapes.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have advised the World Heritage Committee to include Mount Kumgang in the UNESCO World Heritage list. The official submission by North Korea names the site as Mt. Kumgang - Diamond Mountain from the Sea.
The UNESCO website describes Mount Kumgang as a "strikingly beautiful mountain" with numerous peaks, unique rock formations, and about 12,000 waterfalls and pools. These features are fed by crystal-clear waters from hundreds of gorges, accompanied by a coastal seascape. The mountain is also steeped in legends and cultural artifacts passed down through generations.
North Korea's application process began in 2021, but the review was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The evaluation has since resumed this year. Initially, North Korea sought recognition for the site as both a cultural and natural heritage site. However, the advisory bodies recommended its listing as a cultural landscape.
If successful, Mount Kumgang will be North Korea's third World Cultural Heritage site, joining the Complex of Koguryo Tombs, added in 2004, and the Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong, inscribed in 2013. In 2014, North Korea's "Arirang, lyrical folk song in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" was also recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.