South & North Korea Call the DMZ “A Clean Sweep”
On Monday, October 1, troops from both sides of the Korean Peninsula started clearing out landmines that have made the DMZ feel more like a minefield than a peace zone. South Korea’s defence ministry announced the move as part of a trust‑building pact that came out of last month’s summit in Pyongyang between President Moon Jae‑in and Kim Jong Un.
What’s Really Happening?
- All the landmines inside the Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom are set to be removed within 20 days.
- South Korean military engineers will take the front line of this dangerous work.
- No confirmation yet that North Korean troops have begun the task, but the deal is all about joint effort.
- After the mines are gone, guard posts and weapons will be dismantled, leaving the JSA troops unarmed and on a more relaxed footing.
The JSA is the only place along the 250‑km‑long DMZ where South and North Korean soldiers actually stand face‑to‑face, with a UN peacekeeping squad keeping the peace. Historically, it’s a flashpoint: in 2017, a North Korean guard shot a South‑bound defector five times. Since then, the JSA has hosted two high‑profile summits—one dramatic April meeting and a quieter May encounter—where the “peace zone” idea was first declared.
Beyond the JSA: Demining in Gangwon
Monday also marked the start of a demining operation in Gangwon province on the South’s east side. Teams will scour the area for the remains of soldiers who fell in the 1950‑1953 war, keeping the story of the peninsula’s past alive.
Why It Matters
- Over a million landmines pepper border zones—DMZ and the Civilian Control Zone.
- They’ve killed or injured countless civilians and soldiers over the years.
- In 2015, two South Korean soldiers were maimed by a suspect North Korean landmine, which the North denied.
The plan to strip the DMZ of its lethal legacy is a bold step toward a less tense and more peaceful Peninsula. With both sides pitching in, there’s a real chance this long‑standing flashpoint could finally become a place of genuine cooperation.
