Accelerated Restoration of Demolished GPs

Pilot Project for Advanced GP Facilities under Army’s 5th Corps

Full Deployment of Unmanned Surveillance Systems such as RCWS and Drones

The South Korean military plans to accelerate the restoration of frontline Guard Posts (GPs) that were previously demolished in accordance with the September 19 Military Agreement. This move comes as North Korea has begun to formalize the border in areas north of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), prompting the South to strengthen its posture in response.

Defense Minister An Kyu-baek visited the Army 25th Division GOP unit on the 15th of last month to inspect the military readiness posture. Photo by Ministry of National Defense, Yonhap News Agency

According to a government official on March 30, "We plan to begin full-scale restoration this year of one of the GPs demolished under the inter-Korean military agreement," adding, "It will be designed as a future-oriented GP system capable of both manned and unmanned integrated surveillance operations."

In accordance with the military agreement, the South Korean military had completely demolished 11 GPs that had been operating within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). After the de facto termination of the agreement, the military completed a temporary restoration in May of last year, investing 19.5 billion won. Starting this year, these will be replaced with advanced GPs rather than temporary ones. A total of 14.4 billion won will be invested in the GP under the Army's 5th Corps, with completion scheduled for 2029.

The restored GP will be a manned-unmanned integrated system. Soldiers will not be stationed there during peacetime, but will be deployed only during operations. To enable this, a tower-type post will be equipped with foliage-penetrating radar, mid-range cameras, and LIDAR, maintaining a 24-hour surveillance system. If enemy movement is detected, the post will respond with Remote Controlled Weapon Systems (RCWS) such as 40mm grenade launchers and 12.7mm machine guns. When North Korean troops cross the MDL, the South Korean military currently responds with warning broadcasts and warning shots. In particular, the military plans to deploy reconnaissance drones from an openable bunker to the frontline in emergency situations.

After North Korea officially declared the complete termination of the agreement, it also began restoring the GPs it had demolished under the September 19 Military Agreement. North Korean troops have been deployed to the 11 withdrawn GPs, where they have set up observation posts and built defensive positions, bringing in heavy weapons such as recoilless rifles. Although the number of GPs within the DMZ was reduced from about 160 to 150 on the North's side and from about 60 to 50 on the South's side under the agreement, in effect, most GPs have now been fully restored.

On March 27, President Lee Jaemyung also stated at the Armed Forces Major Commanders' Meeting held at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan, Seoul, "North Korea has recently begun formalizing the border in the area of the MDL within the DMZ," and instructed, "In this grave security situation, the top priority of our military must be to maintain the highest level of military readiness, capable of responding to any provocation or threat from the enemy."

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