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| Vincent Brooks, commander for United Nations Command and U.S. Forces Korea |
Following the announcement, Seoul and Pyongyang plan to speed up their bilateral efforts to further disarm areas near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) next week. They include the withdrawal of guard posts and firearms there.
"The UNC, in close cooperation with the Joint Chiefs of Staff in South Korea, has reviewed and verified the landmine clearance work done to date at the JSA in the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjeom as part of the comprehensive military agreement between the two Koreas," the UNC said in a statement.
Last month, Seoul and Pyongyang signed the agreement on the sidelines of this year's third inter-Korean summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Both sides agreed on a package of bilateral measures to ease military tension on the Korean Peninsula, and the removal of landmines in the JSA ― starting Oct. 1 ― came against this backdrop.
The two Koreas are also expected to remove guard posts and weapons in the JSA by Oct. 25, according to the agreement. The North operates five posts, while the South has four.
"Future potential actions may include additional mine clearance, removing guard posts, reducing security personnel, removing certain weapons, and the return of the remains of service members to their parent nation," the UNC said.
Representatives from the two Koreas and the UNC gathered at Panmunjeom, Tuesday, to discuss the upcoming military disarmament measures. The three-way consultation body will continue holding additional talks for disarmament near the border area, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
UNC Commander Vincent Brooks pledged to continue negotiating with the two Koreas in order for them to fulfill their joint agreement in the future.
"The verification of initial land mine clearance operations in the DMZ lays the foundation for future progress of the implementation of the agreement," he said. "The UNC will continue to work closely with the two Koreas to synchronize implementation efforts on the way ahead."
The JSA disarmament, when finished, will allow for civilian and foreign tourists to visit the border area from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. without restrictions about what they can wear.
