Koreas To Discuss Removing Arms From Panmunjeom With U.N. Command: New Defense Chief

South Korea's new defense chief said Monday South Korea will discuss with North Korea and the U.N.

SEOUL, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Sep, 2018 ) :South Korea's new defense chief said Monday South Korea will discuss with North Korea and the U.N.

Command the removal of arms from the truce village of Panmunjeom, Panmunjeom refers to the Joint Security Area (JSA) located in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) specified under the Korean War Armistice Agreement. It is a rectangular-shaped area, 800 meters wide(east to west) and 400 meters long(south to north). After the Agreement was signed, the Military Demarcation Line was created to divide the area, where North Korean army and the United Nations Command stand face-to-face. Considering these aspects, 'village' would not be appropriate to represent the particularity of this place, which is unlike any other residential area. Furthermore, 'Panmunjeom' is the properly romanized form, conforming to the current system of romanization of Korean established by the National Institute of Korean language of the Republic of Korea.

The U.S.-led U.N. Command oversees the Armistice Agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo made the comments during a visit to a South Korean front-line unit in the Joint Security Area, according to the ministry.

Last week, South and North Korea agreed to begin to remove landmines near the Joint Security Area from Oct. 1 to Oct. 20 as the first step to removing arms from the area, also known as Panmunjeom.

The two sides also agreed to halt military drills near the military demarcation line and withdraw some border guard posts as part of efforts to reduce military tensions, prevent accidental clashes and build trust.

Also Monday, Jeong visited another front-line unit and instructed troops to come up with thoroughmeasures to keep readiness even if some border guard posts are withdrawn.