Pyongyang, August 22 (KCNA) -- A spokesman for the DPRK Guidance Bureau of Special Zone for International Tour of Mt. Kumgang issued the following statement Monday:

A series of contacts were made between the north and the south of Korea recently to adjust the properties of the south side in the Mt. Kumgang area.

The adjustment is a compatriotic step taken by the DPRK to protect the properties of enterprises of the south side in Mt. Kumgang resort by law and ensure their profit-making activities according to the DPRK Law on Special Zone for International Tour of Mt. Kumgang.

In order to protect the properties of enterprises of the south side which have suffered a big loss due to the south Korean authorities' unilateral suspension of tour, the DPRK has so far provided several opportunities for negotiations and made every sincere effort, advancing a variety of choices so that the properties may be dealt with according to the will of enterprises of the south side.

The south Korean authorities, however, viciously obstructed the adjustment of properties, groundlessly asserting that it is a "violation of agreement" and "encroachment on the right to properties." In the end they resorted to undisguised delaying tactics, running the whole gamut of sleight of hand.

The DPRK side tried to settle the issue through negotiations while repeatedly postponing the date. Now that the south Korean authorities are persistently disturbing the adjustment of properties, the DPRK side, as already declared, notified the south side on July 29 that the properties of the south side would be legally dealt with according to the DPRK law and in case the enterprises of the south side do not witness the adjustment within three weeks, the former would consider that the latter totally forfeited the right to properties and strictly dispose of them.

Even in that case the DPRK side showed such magnanimity as extending the delay of legal disposal as requested by the enterprises which responded to the proposal for witnessing the adjustment and giving time to choose the method of dealing with properties.

The puppet group not only ignored even the last opportunity given by the DPRK but challenged it, talking about "lawsuit" like a thief crying "Stop the thief!"

It was the puppet group which scrapped the agreement between the DPRK and the Hyundai Group on tour of Mt. Kumgang and blatantly defied the DPRK's patience and sincere efforts to protect the right to properties of enterprises of the south side. It is the height of shamelessness for the group to talk about "violation of agreement" and "encroachment upon the right to properties".

The group has unilaterally kept the tour of Mt. Kumgang in suspension for three years and, consequently, there is no hope of making it afloat in the future. Yet, it is talking about 'bringing a lawsuit" against the DPRK side. This would bring only disgrace to it and become laughing stock.

Through the August 19 contact the DPRK side finally confirmed that the puppet group has no intention to resume the tour of Mt. Kumgang and respond to the adjustment of properties but is keen to realize its sinister intention to use noble tourism for the purpose of confrontation.

It is needless to say that there will be neither magnanimity nor generosity for such hooligans who behave as they please without having their business registered in the area where the DPRK's sovereignty is exercised.

Now that the south Korean authorities finally refused to resume tour of Mt. Kumgang and register properties despite the sincere efforts of the DPRK, the Guidance Bureau of Special Zone for International Tour of Mt. Kumgang of the DPRK solemnly declares the following steps according to the relevant law including Article 26 and Article 40 of the Law on Special Zone for International Tour of Mt. Kumgang:

Firstly, the DPRK considers that the south Korean authorities totally abandoned the protection of properties and interests of enterprises of the south side and from now on makes a real legal disposal of all the properties including real estates, equipment and vehicles of the south side in the Special Zone for International Tour of Mt. Kumgang.

Secondly, the DPRK bans taking materials and properties of enterprises of the south side out of Mt. Kumgang resort from 00:00 on August 21.

Thirdly, personnel from the south side in the Special Zone for International Tour of Mt. Kumgang should leave it within 72 hours.

The puppet conservative group is entirely to blame for the situation today when the tour of Mt. Kumgang has reached such a deplorable pass though it had been under way amid the attention of all Koreans and the whole world and its crimes will be denounced and cursed by them for all ages.