South, North Korean militaries agree to jointly control DMZ

South and North Korean military authorities will deal with military-related issues arising in the Demilitarized Zone in the future connected to the construction of the projected inter-Korean railway and highway. This is based on an agreement reached at a general-level meeting of the United Nations Command (UNC) and the North Korean military held in the truce village of Panmunjom Friday.

In the pact signed by the UNC and the North Korean People's Army on the opening of related areas of the DMZ, the two sides stipulated that the South and North Korean militaries will deal with any technical and practical problems arising in the southern area of the DMZ where the Kyongui (Seoul-Kaesong) Railway and the adjacent highway are to be constructed in accordance with the Military Armistice Agreement.

The two sides also agreed to open part of the DMZ and designate it a joint administrative area. In order to prevent any military-related accidents after the connection of the inter-Korean railway, the two sides decided to provide joint regulations to govern transport through inter-Korean working-level military contacts in line with the armistice pact.

Related Defense Ministry officials said that the agreement is the 29th in a series of armistice-related accords, adding that the UNC and the North Korean military have been engaged in negotiations on administrative rights over the DMZ since Oct. 11.