Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Thursday that the suspended tour by South Koreans to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s scenic resort of Mount Kumgang was not subject to international sanctions "basically."

Kang made the remarks during a press conference with local reporters in Seoul, saying individuals' tour to the Mount Kumgang resort was not basically subject to the UN Security Council sanctions.

The minister said the ROK tour to the DPRK's mountain resort was a matter of whether the unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs would grant it or not, according to local media reports.

Her comment came a day after the DPRK's official newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported that top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un said he would welcome the ROK compatriots at any time if they want to come to Mount Kumgang.

Kim ordered the removal of ROK-built facilities in Mount Kumgang in an agreement with the relevant unit of the ROK side.

Kim Jong Un: ROK's facilities in Mt. Kumgang resort must be removed

The tour by ROK people to Mount Kumgang has been halted since a South Korean female tourist was shot dead in 2008 by a DPRK soldier after allegedly venturing into off-limit areas.

ROK government has adhered to preconditions for the resumed Mount Kumgang tour, including the probe to get to the bottom of the incident, the promise to prevent recurrence of such incidents, and the adoption of measures to secure tourists' safety.

Kang told reporters that there has been no change in the government's stance toward the incident.

She noted that the ROK's basic position is to pursue inter-Korean relations and dialogues under the framework of international sanctions, which is determined by the international society, not by the ROK itself.