AP Television North Korea, Mount Kumgang region, September 12, 2010 1. Wide of valley in Mount Kumgang area, tilt up from water to mountains 2. Mid of rocks and trees on mountainside in mist 3. Wide pan of water running through mountain valley 4. Wide of Kumgangsan Hotel 5. Mid of North Korean tour group getting onto coach outside hotel 6. Wide of people standing at hotel entrance 7. Wide of coach with North Korean tour group driving away from hotel 8. Wide of North Korean tour group walking up mountain path 9. Close of feet of North Korean tour group walking up mountain path 10. Wide of North Korean tour group walking up mountain path 11. Mid of North Korean tour group members climbing up through narrow rock passageway 12. Wide of North Korean tour group members walking along mountain path across small stream 13. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Nam Un Ju, Mount Kumgang Tour Guide: "Recently, many Korean people have been visiting Mount Kumgang and after they have seen the area, they feel very proud of Mount Kumgang, because it's famous around the world, and because it's so beautiful." 14. Wide of Chinese tour group on bridge crossing mountain valley 15. Mid of European tour group members walking up mountain path 16. Wide of valley with North Korean tour group crossing bridge over river 17. Mid of North Korean tour group on bridge crossing river 18. Mid of feet tilt up to 74 year-old North Korean woman walking up steps on mountain path 19. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Kim Pong Rim, 74 year-old member of North Korean tour group: "It's very fresh, and cheerful. I was a bit worried when I was climbing up, but that was unnecessary, since the air is so fresh, I feel a hundred years younger now that I've come here." 20. Close of water pouring over rock at start of 'Nine Dragons' waterfall 21. Wide of 'Nine Dragons' waterfall tilt down to North Korean tour group posing for photos in front of it 22. Mid of North Korean tour group members taking photos 23. Close of young girl member of North Korean tour group dancing at pavilion overlooking waterfall 24. Wide of young girl member of North Korean tour group dancing at pavilion overlooking waterfall 25. Wide of North Korean tour group at pavilion overlooking waterfall 26. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Nam Un Ju, Mount Kumgang Tour Guide: "In the future, this beautiful Mount Kumgang area will be crowded with more foreign visitors and Korean people." 27. Mid tilt down of waterfall 28. Wide of waterfall LEAD IN: North Korea's most spectacular mountain range has been quiet since a project that brought thousands of South Koreans to visit was suspended in 2008. But now North Korean tour groups and a small number of foreigners are coming to hike through the impressive scenery. STORYLINE: Although it is most often referred to as Mount Kumgang, or Diamond Mountain, this is not just one peak, but a whole area of heights and valleys forty kilometres wide and sixty kilometres long (24.85 x 37.3 miles) The air is very fresh, and even on a rainy and misty day, the steep slopes, rushing water and thick forests impress visitors. The area is very close to the tense border between the two Koreas. It is the site of a landmark inter-Korean tourism venture, started in 1998, which brought nearly two million South Korean tourists to the DPRK, according to South Korean official statistics. South Korean companies, led by Hyundai, poured investment into building the Mount Kumgang resort complex. But in 2008, a South Korean tourist was shot dead there by a North Korean guard. After that incident, South Korea suspended tour group visits to the Kumgang mountains. North Korea has refused. Visitors stay in a nearby, older North Korean hotel, the Kumgangsan Hotel. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/cfb27d1b65a72b36b8402a09b2db6c12 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 28 Jul 2015
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