The South Korean government announced on Thursday that North Korea is tearing down a property erected by South Korea that was used to hold reunions of families split up during the 1950–53 Korean War as part of its ongoing efforts to remove reminders of interaction between the warring parties.

Relations between North and South Korea are at their lowest point in years. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is openly showcasing his growing nuclear weapons program and has abandoned efforts for better ties between the two countries. He now considers South Korea a permanent enemy. The 12-storey building at the scenic Diamond Mountain resort in the North has 206 rooms and banquet facilities for meetings. Since 2009, it has been used for family reunions. The last reunion between the Koreas took place in 2018 when Kim started diplomatic talks with Seoul and Washington, aiming to use his nuclear program to gain economic benefits.

In 2019, talks fell apart after a failed summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and then-US President Donald Trump. The US rejected North Korea's demand to lift major economic sanctions in exchange for giving up only part of its nuclear program. Since then, North Korea has cut off almost all diplomatic ties with South Korea, ignored US efforts to restart talks, and sped up its nuclear weapons and missile development. The structure is called the Reunion Centre for the Separated Families. Seoul's Unification Ministry, which deals with inter-Korean matters, said it had verified that North Korea was tearing it down and asked the North to halt the demolition. A hotel, golf course, and other tourist amenities constructed in South Korea were previously taken out of the Diamond Mountain resort by the North.

The ministry stated that demolishing the reunion centre is an inhumane act that destroys the hopes of separated families and is also a serious violation of state-owned property. It added that the South's government will explore possible responses, including legal action and international pressure. However, it is uncertain if Seoul has any effective options. South Korea sued North Korea for damages in 2023, claiming that the latter had blown up a joint liaison office just north of their border in 2020, for a total of 44.7 billion won ($30 million). The action was viewed as symbolic since, should North Korea be judged accountable for damages, South Korea lacks a clear means of enforcing payment.