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Satellite images released on May 14 by 38 North

On May 15, North Korea said it would be inviting four reporters from a South Korean wire service and four more from a broadcaster to attend the closing of the nuclear test site at Punggye Village.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry reported that North Korea’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland had conveyed the invitation by way of Panmunjeom that morning.

“Four reporters from one South Korean wire service and four reporters from one broadcaster are invited to the closing ceremony of the northern nuclear test site, which will take place between May 23 and 25,” North Korea said in the invitation.

“The reporters who have been invited will receive visas from the North Korean embassy in China and on May 22 will depart from Beijing on a private jet with the other foreign reporters, arrive at Kalma International Airport in Wonsan and have access to lodgings and a press center in Wonsan.”

The team of reporters from South Korea, the US, China, Russia and the UK that have been invited by North Korea are supposed to travel by train from Wonsan to the northern nuclear test site in Punggye Village. After the reporters do their reporting and filming at the test site, they will be able to use the press center in Wonsan, North Korea said.

North Korea explained that the team of reporters “will be returning on a private jet from Kalma International Airport in Wonsan on May 26 or 27.” The reporters who are invited will be expected to cover the costs associated with their travel, accommodations and communications. “The necessary measures will be taken through deliberations with related ministries,” said a spokesperson for South Korea’s Unification Ministry.

North Korea also invited reported from selected countries to attend the detonation of the cooling tower at its Yongbyon nuclear reactor in June 2008.

By Kim Ji-eun, staff reporter

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