A suggestion for Hantangang transnational UNESCO Global Geopark between ROK and DPRK

In 2020, UNESCO Global Geopark Secretariat recommended that Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark of ROK (Republic of Korea) should be expanded into a border area of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) for an enlargement of outstanding geological heritage values. Around Cheorwon-Pyeonggang lava plateau area (ca. 1,530 km(2)) of Pyeonggang-gun, Sepho-gun, Cheorwon-gun, and Gimhwa-gun in DPRK is a reasonable area to make the Hantangang transnational UNESCO Global Geopark. The Marble Arch Caves transnational UNESCO Global Geopark, located on boundary between British Northern Ireland and Ireland, should be considered as the most suitable preceding model, because both are located in the troubled regions. There are many geological, archaeological, and ecological attractive sites in the Hantangang transnational UNESCO Global Geopark. There are four phases of 10 years for the nomination of the Hantangang transnational UNESCO Global Geopark: first phase, the establishment of preparatory committees and joint researches; second phase, the geosite designation and the visitor program development in the DPRK; third phase the establishment of management plans of two Koreas and geopark center in the DMZ (demilitarized zone); and fourth phase, submission of geopark application and on-the-spot evaluation. If the roadmap, suggested in this paper, is successfully carried out, the Hantangang transnational UNESCO Global Geopark will have the greatest impact on establishing a peace system between two Koreas.