World - July 13, 2025

North Korea’s Mount Kumgang Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site

team maverick July 13, 2025

0 3 min read

The scenic “Diamond Mountain from the Sea” joins North Korea’s growing list of globally recognized cultural treasures

North Korea’s picturesque Mount Kumgang, also known as the “Diamond Mountain,” has officially been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized for its natural beauty, cultural significance, and enduring legends.

The designation was confirmed during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Paris. The site has been officially listed as “Mt. Kumgang – Diamond Mountain from the Sea.”

Mount Kumgang is renowned for its dramatic, seasonally changing landscapes—featuring striking peaks, curious rock formations, waterfalls, and crystal-clear pools formed by water flowing through hundreds of gorges. It also boasts a beautiful seascape along the coastline. According to UNESCO, the area is rich in legends and houses numerous cultural relics passed down through generations.

The mountain’s inclusion comes after a recommendation in May by two of UNESCO’s key advisory bodies—the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. North Korea had initially submitted its nomination in 2021, but the review process was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Evaluations resumed earlier this year.

Mount Kumgang now becomes North Korea’s third UNESCO World Heritage site, joining the Complex of Koguryo Tombs (inscribed in 2004) and the Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong (added in 2013). In 2014, North Korea also had “Arirang,” a traditional folk song, recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Meanwhile, on the same day, South Korea also received a UNESCO nod, with the “Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream” in the country’s southeast being added to the World Heritage list for their exceptional prehistoric cultural value.

The latest additions from both North and South Korea reflect growing recognition of the Korean Peninsula’s rich cultural and natural heritage on the global stage.