ID :
20373
Sun, 09/21/2008 - 11:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20373
The shortlink copeid
Seoul reduces restricted area around DMZ
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- A 15-kilometer-wide restricted area enforced by South
Korea as a buffer to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, one
of the world's most heavily armed borders, will be reduced to 10 kilometers this
week, freeing up a vast area of land for development, officials said Sunday.
The restricted area runs along the entire DMZ, a four-kilometer swath that
parallels the military demarcation line dividing the two Koreas.
The change will take effect as of Monday, Defense Ministry officials said.
The prohibited zone was first designated in February 1954, and ranged between
five and 20 kilometers in width. The current 15-kilometer-wide boundary was drawn
in January 1997.
The freed area will be added to the existing 10-kilometer-wide controlled zone,
according to Col. Jung Jong-min, head of the ministry's military installation
relocation bureau.
"The change will not affect any military operations within the restricted area as
the combined width of the restricted and controlled areas will still stand at 25
kilometers," Jung told reporters.
Access to the restricted zone is strictly controlled by the military, with only a
handful of tourists allowed to enter each day. There are no access limits,
however, to the controlled zone, where property owners are only required to
consult with military authorities before starting any new construction.
The scheduled change also removes construction and access restrictions on over
210 million square meters of land surrounding military boundaries and
installations throughout the country. The total area is nearly 72 times the size
of Yeouido, an island located in Seoul's Han River and the location of the
country's stock exchange as well as numerous businesses and residences.
"We believe the change will significantly help protect people's property rights.
The ministry will continue to work to reduce any unnecessary regulations to help
promote convenience for the sake of the people," the ministry said in a
statement.
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- A 15-kilometer-wide restricted area enforced by South
Korea as a buffer to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, one
of the world's most heavily armed borders, will be reduced to 10 kilometers this
week, freeing up a vast area of land for development, officials said Sunday.
The restricted area runs along the entire DMZ, a four-kilometer swath that
parallels the military demarcation line dividing the two Koreas.
The change will take effect as of Monday, Defense Ministry officials said.
The prohibited zone was first designated in February 1954, and ranged between
five and 20 kilometers in width. The current 15-kilometer-wide boundary was drawn
in January 1997.
The freed area will be added to the existing 10-kilometer-wide controlled zone,
according to Col. Jung Jong-min, head of the ministry's military installation
relocation bureau.
"The change will not affect any military operations within the restricted area as
the combined width of the restricted and controlled areas will still stand at 25
kilometers," Jung told reporters.
Access to the restricted zone is strictly controlled by the military, with only a
handful of tourists allowed to enter each day. There are no access limits,
however, to the controlled zone, where property owners are only required to
consult with military authorities before starting any new construction.
The scheduled change also removes construction and access restrictions on over
210 million square meters of land surrounding military boundaries and
installations throughout the country. The total area is nearly 72 times the size
of Yeouido, an island located in Seoul's Han River and the location of the
country's stock exchange as well as numerous businesses and residences.
"We believe the change will significantly help protect people's property rights.
The ministry will continue to work to reduce any unnecessary regulations to help
promote convenience for the sake of the people," the ministry said in a
statement.
