Koreas to take guns out of Cold War truce village

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The two Koreas will remove all firearms and guard posts from a Cold War-era truce village where armed soldiers have stared each other down for decades, Seoul's defense ministry announced Thursday.

The Joint Security Area – also known as the truce village of Panmunjom – has historically been both a flashpoint and a key location for diplomacy between the two Koreas ever since their split in 1953.

It is the only spot along the tense, 250km frontier where soldiers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the US-led United Nations Command stand face to face.

ROK soldiers stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, ROK, April 11, 2018. /Reuters Photo‍

Now guards will start disarming from Friday, ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said, part of a recent diplomatic thaw between the two foes that has gathered pace.

"I am aware that it is going according to plan," Choi told reporters.

Panmunjom was where the armistice that ended the bitter Korean War was signed.

Once demilitarized, the JSA will be guarded by 35 unarmed personnel from each side and "freedom of movement" will be allowed for visitors and tourists, according to a military pact signed between the two Koreas last month.

The two Koreas - which are technically still at war - agreed to take measures to ease military tensions on their border at a meeting in Pyongyang last month between Republic of Korea President Moon Jae-in and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.

The two sides finished removing landmines at the JSA - which has been increasingly used for talks between the two Koreas - last week as part of the deal.

The two Koreas and the UN Command, which is included as it retains jurisdiction over the southern half of the JSA, will conduct a joint verification until Saturday.

Source(s): AFP