Paris: A scenic mountain known for its beauty that changes with the seasons, North Korea's Mount Kumgang has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. UNESCO added Mount Kumgang to its World Heritage list following the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris on Sunday. The official name of the place entering the list is "Mt. Kumgang - Diamond Mountain from the Sea."

According to Yonhap News Agency, the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the International Union for Conservation of Nature had recommended the inclusion of Mount Kumgang on the UNESCO World Heritage list earlier this year. These organizations serve as advisory bodies to the World Heritage Committee.

UNESCO's website describes Mount Kumgang as a mountain with numerous peaks and curious rocks, featuring waterfalls and pools formed by clear waters from hundreds of gorges, along with a seascape along the coastline. The mountain is also noted for its legends and cultural relics passed down through generations.

Following the official announcement, members of the North Korean delegation celebrated by rising from their seats and holding up their national flag. UNESCO's executive summary mentioned that Mount Kumgang is a mixed natural and cultural heritage site, highlighting Korea's Buddhist mountain culture and tradition of mountain worship over centuries.

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in Seoul expressed its approval of Mount Kumgang's new status, labeling it a symbol of Korean Buddhism. The Order noted that Shingye Temple, located on Mount Kumgang, was restored in 2007 and has hosted joint Buddhist services for monks from both Koreas. They expressed hope that inter-Korean relations might improve following this recognition, allowing monks from both sides to gather and pray together again.

Mount Kumgang is now North Korea's third World Cultural Heritage site, alongside the Complex of Koguryo Tombs and the Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong. North Korea's application for this status was submitted in 2021, with the review process delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, resuming only this year.

In addition to its World Cultural Heritage sites, North Korea has "Arirang, lyrical folk song in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2014.