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Yellow flags are hoisted over DMZ guard posts (GPs) selected for dismantlement on Nov. 4. (Yonhap News)
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Posts selected for preservation based on historical value and potential peaceful use
South and North Korea have agreed to each preserve one of the 11 guard posts in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) they had agreed to completely dismantle by the end of this month. South Korea has selected a guard post along the East Sea and North Korea a guard post in the central area. “During the 10th general-level military talks and correspondence, the South and North Korean militaries shared the sense that some guard posts are worthy of preservation and agreed to each preserve one of the 11 guard posts that are supposed to be dismantled on a trial basis,” South Korea’s Ministry of Defense announced on Nov. 8. According to the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), signed on Sept. 19, the two sides are supposed to remove firearms, equipment and troops from eleven guard posts in the DMZ on a trial basis and then completely dismantle the facilities by the end of this month. South Korea selected a surveillance guard post on the East Sea in light of its historical significance and preservation value and the possibility of its peaceful use in the future. This guard post is the closest to the East Sea and was the first built after the armistice agreement was reached in 1953. “This guard post is regarded as having historical preservation value; a very great potential for peaceful applications because of its links to Mt. Kumgang, the East Sea coastline and Kamho Lake; and considerable accessibility because of its proximity to the inter-Korean highway along the East Sea,” the Defense Ministry explained. The North Koreans also selected a guard post in the central region according to their own criteria. Since the South and North Korean militaries have agreed to preserve the guard posts in question intact without completely destroying their facilities, they have agreed to continually verify that these facilities are not being used for military purposes. “The South and North Korean militaries are exploring ways to increase mutual trust and transparency during the probationary dismantlement of guard posts. We’re planning to make every effort to ensure that the probationary withdrawal is complete by the end of December,” the Defense Ministry said. “We intend to complete the removal of troops and firearms by Nov. 10 and to also work on dismantling several of the guard posts. Our plan is to dismantle the guard posts using excavators rather than explosives in light of safety and environmental concerns,” a Ministry official said. Converting GPs from instruments of war into symbols of peace and life On Nov. 8, prior to the two sides’ agreement, a civic group held a press conference asking for the dismantlement of the observation guard posts to be postponed and for the two sides to deliberate ways to preserve them. This group was organized to advocate converting the guard posts from outposts of war and confrontation into places for learning about peace and life. “During the process of unification, Germany completely dismantled the Berlin Wall, but now that more than twenty years have passed, a project is underway to restore this as a historical site. Sites that do not impose major stress on the natural ecosystem ought to be preserved as civic spaces, as places for learning the lessons of war and for feeling the preciousness of life and peace,” the group said in a joint statement. This statement was signed by 18 civic groups, including the Conflict Resolution and Peace Center, Green Korea, and Korea DMZ Peace-Life Valley; Rep. Ha Tae-gyeong, a lawmaker with the Bareunmirae Party; Rep. Lee Won-uk and Rep. Lee Won-uk, lawmakers with the Democratic Party; and Rep. Shim Jae-cheol, lawmaker with the Liberty Korea Party. By Yoo Kang-moon, senior staff writer Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
