South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday launched the removal of landmines in border areas as part of efforts to implement the inter-Korean military agreement, local media reported citing Seoul's defense ministry.
The militaries of the two Koreas started removing landmines in the Joint Security Area (JSA) inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), which has left the Korean Peninsula divided since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with armistice.
The two sides agreed to disarm the JSA under the military agreement, which was signed by defense chiefs during the Pyongyang summit in September between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.
The removal works would last for 20 days. The two Koreas and the UN Command, which oversees activities in the DMZ, would reportedly launch consultations on how to operate troops in the JSA after the disarmament.
Troops in the JSA have been banned from crossing the military demarcation line (MDL) since the 1976 incident, in which DPRK soldiers axed two U.S. soldiers. Before the incident, the troops were allowed to freely move inside the JSA.
The militaries of the two Koreas also launched the landmine removal works in the eastern border areas in Cheorwon, Gangwon province, to prepare for the joint excavation of the Korean War remains.
The landmine removal works would last for 60 days. The joint excavation would kick off in April next year.
