The PyeongChang Winter Olympics has led to a slight thaw in inter-Korean relations. And this detente is not only being felt at the highest level, it's piqued the curiosity of ordinary citizens on the DPRK, leading to more visitors making their way to a castle in South Korea just 15 kilometers away from the Demilitarized Zone.

This stone villa is located in South Korea's northeast Gangwon Province in an area which was formerly part of the DPRK. With its fortress-like exterior, it was previously called the Castle of Hwajinpo. It was the holiday home of former DPRK leader Kim Il Sung. The castle was used not only by the Kim family, but also by high-level officials from 1948 to 1950. The area also has a DPRK spy submarine, which was captured in 1996. A frontline observatory also allows visitors to peer at the DPRK's mountains.

HA GO EUN VISITOR "It's sad because we cannot go to the DPRK although it's just right there. I feel strange and I feel a bit emotional after looking at the DPRK."

The venue normally draws about 5,000 to 6,000 visitors during the summer season and 400 to 500 during the winter season. But the Olympics have boosted the number of daily visitors to about 700.

KEUM HYO-KIL VISITOR "While looking at this villa, I thought about our wish for South-North unification and became a bit emotional. I think it's right for us to preserve this site."

The site was under DPRK territory before the 1950 to 1953 war, but it wound up as part of South Korea after the borderline was slightly redrawn after the end of the conflict. Many visitors say the villa helps educate the younger generation on the region's turbulent history.