The western sector of the inter-Korean demilitarized zone is seen from Paju, Gyeonggi Province, May 8. Yonhap
The defense ministry on Wednesday rolled out a plan to ease the boundaries of the military-controlled buffer zone along the inter-Korean border to allow wider civilian access and spur regional growth.
The Civilian Control Line (CCL), a buffer zone that lies within 10 kilometers south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) that runs through the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, will be reduced to an average of 6 km in distance, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said in a briefing.
"The CCL was established to restrict civilian access and guarantee military operations, but there have been growing calls for a need to complement its actual control measures," Ahn said.
"We have come up with an adjustment plan for the CCL to adapt to future security environments amid shrinking military manpower, while ensuring operational conditions," he said.
