



By Park Si-soo







North Korea will launch a tour program to Mount Geumgang this month in an apparent effort to bolster its sagging economy amid international sanctions.







The North's propaganda outlet DPRK Today said Sunday the four-day program would begin in late July and run until the end of November.







The program ― believed to be for foreigners ― includes hiking, fishing and spa treatments.







In April last year, the Kumgangsan International Travel Co. promoted a similar tour program through one of the North's newspapers.







North Korea has touted Mount Geumgang, along with the ancient border city of Gaeseong, as one of the country's most outstanding tourist destinations.







However, inter-Korean tour programs to Mount Geumgang and Gaeseong targeting South Koreans have been suspended for more than a decade after a South Korean tourist was shot dead near the resort for allegedly trespassing in an off-limits area in 2008.

