South Korea's Defense Ministry and the ruling Uri Party agreed Monday to ease restrictions on the civilian use of land in military protection zones, a step to affect a total of 88 million pyeong (290 million square meters), officials said.
Under the agreement, military protection zones near the inter-Korean border and around military facilities across the country will be curtailed, they added.
"The measure will enable civilians to use the 68 million pyeong of land in the vicinity of the demilitarized zone, and 20 million pyeong around rear bases," said Rep. Noh Woong-rae, spokesman for the Uri Party. The ministry and the party also decided to legalize tougher countermeasures against violation of the country's airspace.
The bill on the operation of military aircraft allows stronger measures, including the use of force, against airplanes that illegally enter areas under South Korean jurisdiction.
The U.S., China, and Japan have already established their own legal devices to protect their skies, based on the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which acknowledges the exclusive and sovereign rights to each country's airspace, Noh said.
Related bills will be forwarded soon to the National Assembly for approval, he added.
Seoul, Sept. 11 (Yonhap News)
S. Korea to ease regulations on military protection zones |
