THIS is the deserted North Korean border town that once welcomed millions of tourists and remains haunted by a bloody murder.

The Mount Kumgang tourist complex is the closest North Korean settlement to its heavily-fortified border with South Korea.

12 The Mount Kumgang tourist complex is the closest North Korean settlement to its heavily-fortified border with South Korea Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 The complex was built by car-maker Hyandai to cater for South Korean tourists Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 But the murder of a South Korean saw tourism dry up in 2008 Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 It now lies desolate after North Korea seized the complex in the aftermath of the killing Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 A few North Koreans remain at the Mount Kumgang complex - which lies just across the border with South Korea Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 Hyandai paid £780million for a 50-year lease on the land back in 1998 Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 South Korean tourist Park Wang-na was killed on a visit to the once-bustling resort Credit: Reuters

These eerie pictures, revealed for the first time, show a desolate town lost in time since it was abandoned ten years ago.

South Korean car maker Hyundai paid the communist state more than £780million to build the complex in 1998.

It soon became an unlikely tourist hotspot for South Koreans, with more than two million flocking to the centre until 2008 where they enjoyed hotels, a golf course and a spa.

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Kumgang also has a fire station, a tourism office, a supermarket and clinic.

But the murder of a South Korean tourist in a bloody shooting saw tours to the outpost stopped.

12 Kumgang has hotels, a golf course and a spa Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 It also has a fire station, a tourism office, a supermarket and clinic Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 Today, it lies abandoned - ten years after the final tourists left Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 These eerie pictures, revealed for the first time, show a desolate town lost in time Credit: Exclusivepix Media

12 Lakes and forests surround the unlikely former tourist hotspot Credit: Exclusivepix Media

North Korea later claimed tourist Park Wang-na had entered a military zone after ignoring warning shots from its guards.

Pyongyang quickly ordered that the complex be seized.

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