A send-off ceremony took place at Panmunjom on Thursday.

Present at the event were Pak Kyong Il, chairman of the DPRK-New Zealand Friendship Association, officials concerned, citizens of Kaesong and members of the group.

Gareth Morgan, head of the group, said the purpose of its tour is to show the world that Korea with a long history is a land with one and the same mountain range stretching from Mt. Paektu to Mt. Halla.

He said that while staying in the DPRK he was deeply impressed to see the beautiful landscape of Korea and its people striving hard to build a thriving nation.

At the end of the event, the members of the group started amid warm send-off of the crowd.

Before starting the members of the group watched the monument to President Kim Il Sung's signature at Panmunjom.

They also visited the conference room of armistice talks, the hall where the armistice agreement was signed and Panmun Pavilion, being briefed on the fact that the army and people of the DPRK beat back the invasion of the U.S.-led imperialist allied forces and achieved a shining victory.

The group crossed the Military Demarcation Line that day.