Military Temporarily Suspends Remains Excavation at DMZ Hwasalmari Gojiji

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo salutes in front of the remains of South Korean soldiers excavated during the Korean War remains excavation work in the Hwasalmori area, our side within the Civilian Control Line in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon Province, on the morning of the 11th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu]The excavation work for remains around the Hwaseolmari Hill area in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) of Gangwon Province has been temporarily suspended.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 17th, the military has temporarily halted the excavation of remains of soldiers who died in the Korean War at Hwaseolmari Hill, which had been ongoing from April 20th this year until the day before.

Following North Korea's demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office and its announcement of military actions, the military authorities appear to have stopped the work to ensure the safety of the troops.

Concerns over accidental clashes in the DMZ have increased as North Korea has effectively declared the termination of the September 19 Inter-Korean Military Agreement.

On the same day, a spokesperson for the General Staff of North Korea announced, "We will redeploy and advance the civilian guard posts that had withdrawn from the DMZ under the Inter-Korean Military Agreement and will strengthen frontline guard duties with ironclad vigilance."

According to the September 19 Military Agreement, South and North Korea had agreed last year to jointly conduct excavation of remains around Hwaseolmari Hill, but since the North did not respond, the South proceeded with the work unilaterally.

Hwaseolmari Hill was the site of four intense battles from 1951 to 1953. It is one of the battle areas in the "Iron Triangle," where South Korean, U.S., and French forces fought fiercely against North Korean and Chinese forces.

After North Korea's demolition of the liaison office the day before, the military has strengthened surveillance and readiness against sudden military situations in contact areas such as the DMZ and the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.