The government says it needs to handle the issue of resuming tours to North Korea's Mount Geumgang resort, which Pyongyang calls for, in consideration of international concerns.

In a regular briefing Friday, Unification Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee said that Seoul remains unchanged in its position regarding whether paying North Korea for the tour program may violate UN Security Council resolutions banning the transfer of a large amount of cash to the North.

The spokesman said that UN Security Council sanctions are first and foremost aimed at blocking North Korean programs and activities related to weapons of mass destruction.

He said the Geumgang tour issue also needs to be dealt with through the lenses of UN resolutions and concerns by the international community.