It's All Golf's Fault Files: North and South Korea Conflict Edition

CNN's Paul Giddings looks at North Korea's now-shuttered (but maintained) Mount Kumkang golf resort and its role in escalating tensions between North and South Korea.

The story of the golf course serves to highlight the continued tension between the two Koreas, which was brought into sharp focus Tuesday when the North fired shells into the South's border island of Yeonpyeoung.
Two South Korean marines and two civilians were killed in the attack, which also wounded 15 marines and three civilians.

In March, a South Korean warship was sunk -- apparently by a North Korean torpedo, though this was vigorously denied -- with the loss of 46 sailors.

But it was the death of a South Korean tourist at Mount Kumgang in 2008 which first dealt a blow to hopes that the development of western-style facilities at the resort would boost the unification program.

On Friday July 11, 53-year-old Park Wang-ja, one of about 200,000 South Koreans who annually spent holidays in the area, was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.

The exact circumstances of her death remain disputed, but according to the Seoul-based Yonhap news agency, the soldier opened fire after she crossed into a military area near a beach.

The South Korean authorities wanted to send a team to investigate her death, but when this was refused, they suspended all trips indefinitely.

"We did not have any clear facts in this case," Lee Jong-joo, the official spokeswoman of the South Korean Unification Ministry, told CNN.

"The most important thing is that the North Korean authorities can guarantee the safety of our tourists," she added.

Comments

[Wisconsin Reader]

I understand a chartered G5 is on the way to the Korean Peninsula. All the passengers are golf scribblers plus Brit Hume. Evidently, there is a rumored Tiger Woods angle to North Korea's attacks on its Southern neighbor. . . The SI guys - plus their anonymous pro - are thought to have the inside track on the story right now since the "pro" knows a certain LPGA player from South Korea - with an Orlando condo - who "might know Tiger" - if you know what I mean. . . Hume is going along to express his concern that almost half of all Koreans have no religious preference and to give them some sort of recommendation.

[Walter]

Golf is a dangerous sport. This just in...


Fla. golf course worker hit by tee shot, dies
Published: November 26, 2010

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — A maintenance worker at a central Florida country club is dead after being struck by a golfer's tee shot.
Police say Maurice Hayden was pulling weeds near a tree at the Mayfair Country Club in Sanford on Wednesday when he was struck in the temple about 30 yards away.

The 42-year-old man was taken to Central Florida Regional Hospital. Police say he died Thursday after being removed from life support.

Police say the shot was an accident and that the golfer will not face charges.

[Tommy Naccarato]

This is a real shame about Korea. I can't think of a better spot which to play the sport. Korea is such a magnificent land where the peoples (both North and South) are warm, humble and giving; all just to attend to my every need--as a tourist.

[Jim]

So they took a break from ruining millions of lives in their own country to destroy those from another country.
What an impressive regime they have there in N.K.
I wonder if they are proud of themselves?

[digsouth]

2 stroke penalty, DQ or ?

[Boyer]

http://fora.tv/2009/07/09/Axis_of_Evil_Christopher_Hitchens#chapter_06

[Aunt Blabbie]

Time to stealth N. Korea.