South Korea demands $35 million in compensation from North Korea over liaison office explosion

The inter-Korean liaison office, established in 2018 on the North Korean side of the border, was a symbol of reconciliation at a time of optimism about several projects aimed at easing tensions between the two Koreas.

However, Pyongyang blew up the liaison office in front of state media cameras on June 16, 2020, after complaining about defectors dropping leaflets into North Korea, according to Reuters.

The inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Kaesong (North Korea) exploded in this photo provided by KCNA News Agency on June 16, 2020.

A South Korean official said the lawsuit over the liaison office explosion, filed with the Seoul Central District Court, was the first lawsuit the South Korean government has brought against North Korea, according to Reuters.

South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said the lawsuit must be filed by June 16 to comply with a three-year limit under South Korean law.

Asked about the possibility of North Korea participating in any such legal process, a South Korean official said that a lawsuit would still need to be filed on time.

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South Korea estimated the cost of the destroyed office and a nearby badly damaged 15-story building that housed South Korean officials at 44.7 billion won ($35 million).

Seoul said Pyongyang's blowing up of the liaison office was an act that eroded trust and violated the property rights of South Korea and its people, according to Reuters.

There is currently no information about Pyongyang's reaction to Seoul's new move.

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