Seoul [South Korea]: North Korea has removed 636 landmines from Panmunjom border village, situated in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), South Korea’s defence minister Jeong Kyeong-do said on Monday.
He said that the numbers are a part of the accomplishments made under the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), which was signed in September.
The agreement, signed between North and South Korea, calls for the withdrawal of front-line troops and firearms and to take a set of confidence-building measures in an aim to reduce inter-Korean tensions, Yonhap News Agency reported.
On October 20, the two Koreas had carried out a joint inspection to remove landmines in the Joint Security Area (JSA).
“There were no land mines found in our region, and the North informed us that it has removed more than 600 land mines,” Jeong said. Asked about the exact number, the minister replied that 636 landmines were removed from the JSA.
He further said that South Korea has over 60 concrete-made guard posts, as well as general outposts in the southern side of the DMZ, while North Korea operates more than 160 guard posts.
On November 11, the two Koreas had completed the process of withdrawing their troops and equipment from 11 guard posts.
Inter-Korean relations have dramatically improved this year following South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the past few months.
The two Korean leaders have met thrice — in April, May and September — agreeing to cease hostilities against each other, strengthening inter-Korean cooperation and achieving complete denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]