Enjoying Coffee While Gazing at a Tranquil North Korean Village from This Starbucks

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A new Starbucks has opened at the Aegibong Peace Ecopark in South Korea, where coffee enthusiasts can enjoy their drinks while taking in views of a tranquil North Korean mountain village. The observatory is situated fewer than 1,500 feet from the North Korean border and offers a vantage point overlooking North Korea’s Songaksan mountain and a nearby village in Kaephung county.

Before accessing the observatory, patrons must pass through a military checkpoint. On its opening day, the Starbucks welcomed around 40 customers, including several international visitors, who sat at tables facing North Korea.

The city of Gimpo, which has developed this site as a tourist destination, stated that hosting a Starbucks represents a commitment to “robust security on the Korean Peninsula” and embodies the presence of an iconic capitalist brand.

The Aegibong Peace Ecopark includes multiple facilities, such as gardens, exhibition halls, conference rooms, and a memorial dedicated to fallen marines, reflecting on its history as a former battleground during the 1950-53 Korean War.

As tensions remain high between North and South Korea, cities like Gimpo and Paju are promoting their border areas as tourist attractions. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been increasing pressure on South Korea and has issued threats involving nuclear weapons while engaging in various forms of psychological and electronic warfare.

For several months, North Korea has been launching balloons into South Korea, with Kaephung county likely being one of the launch sites. The South Korean military reported that overnight, North Korea sent dozens more balloons, some of which landed near the capital Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi province.