THE North and South Korean militaries have agreed to destroy 22 frontline guard posts by the end of November as they discussed their next steps in a wide-ranging military agreement signed last month to reduce tensions.
They also agreed to conduct a joint survey early next month of a 43-mile waterway near their western border where civilian vessels from both countries will eventually be allowed to pass freely, according to a statement released after the talks at the border village of Panmunjom.
The plans to remove the guard posts and jointly use the Han River estuary were among the commitments spelled out in the military agreement reached last month on the sidelines of a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
The Koreas have been clearing mines from frontline areas and plan to start their first joint search for remains of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War in April.
According to the statement provided by South Korea’s Defence Ministry, the Koreas agreed to complete the withdrawal of personnel, firearms and equipment and the destruction of the 11 guard posts from each side by the end of November. They plan to jointly verify the results in December.
In the September agreement, the Koreas pledged to eventually withdraw all guard posts within the heavily armed Demilitarised Zone between them.
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