Trilateral consultation group of military officers agree to draft join work rules for JSA guards

The trilateral consultation group of military officials from South and North Korea and the US holds its third meeting regarding the demilitarization of the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Freedom House in Panmunjom on Nov. 6. (Yonhap News)

Actual details of rules to be decided via correspondence

On Nov. 6, a trilateral consultation group involving military officials from South and North Korea and from the UN Command held its third meeting at Freedom House, on the South Korean side of Panmunjom, and agreed to draft joint work rules for guards before the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom is opened up to visitors. The actual details and content of the joint work rules will be decided through correspondence.

On Tuesday, the three sides checked the new guard posts that have been built on the northern and southern entrances to the JSA. South Korea built a new guard post at the end of the “72-hour bridge” on the North Korean side, while the North Koreans built a guard post at the entrance to the South Korean side. In the future, South and North Korean guards will work together on each side.

A new guard post built at the end of the “72-hour bridge” on the North Korean side of the JSA at Panmunjom. (provided by the Ministry of National Defense)

The three parties in the consultation group furthermore assessed the operational status of surveillance equipment in the JSA and deliberated on ways to share information. Their plan is for free travel for tourists to be guaranteed as soon as the adjustment of the surveillance equipment is complete.

“We’re working to make free travel possible by the end of this month. Free travel will be in place by the end of the year at the latest,” said an official at South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.

　

By Yoo Kang-moon, seniors staff writer

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