South Korean Court Orders North Korea to Pay $32.5 Million Over Kaesong Liaison Office Demolition

South Korean Court Orders North Korea to Pay $32.5 Million Over Kaesong Liaison Office Demolition A Seoul court has ordered North Korea to pay 44.6 billion won (approximately $32.5 million) to the South Korean government over the destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong in June 2020. The building was established to facilitate dialogue […]

South Korean Court Orders North Korea to Pay $32.5 Million Over Kaesong Liaison Office Demolition

A Seoul court has ordered North Korea to pay 44.6 billion won (approximately $32.5 million) to the South Korean government over the destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong in June 2020.

The building was established to facilitate dialogue between the two Koreas but was demolished by Pyongyang amid heightened tensions, including disputes over anti-North Korean leaflets sent from the South.

The ruling marks the first time South Korea has directly sought damages from North Korea over the destruction of government property.

South Korean authorities are expected to review possible next steps, but actual payment remains uncertain because North Korea does not recognize South Korean jurisdiction over its territory.