SEOUL — South Korea announced Wednesday that it will reposition a line running parallel to its military border with North Korea, effectively shrinking the zone where civilians need special authorization to enter.
The boundary in question, known as the Civilian Control Line, currently sits as far as 10 kilometers — roughly 6.2 miles — south of the Military Demarcation Line, which was established at the conclusion of the 1950-53 Korean War. Anyone wishing to enter the restricted area between the two lines must first receive military approval.
Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said the adjustment will move the civilian access line to an average of 6 kilometers from the Military Demarcation Line. He described the change as a response to longstanding requests from people living in the area, made possible by what he called improved defense readiness.
According to media reports, as many as 20,000 people live within the restricted zone, while others regularly pass through the authorization process to farm or work in the area.
Along with the boundary shift, the defence ministry announced additional measures to loosen restrictions near the border. Among them is a relaxed reporting requirement for residents who use drones for agricultural purposes.
President Lee Jae Myung’s liberal government, which took office last year, has pursued a number of steps intended to reduce friction with North Korea. However, Pyongyang has continued to maintain a hostile posture toward its southern neighbor.
