Page 301 - 2018 Defense White Paper

Section 2 Military Assurance for Inter-Korean

Exchange and Cooperation and

Resolution of the ROK POW Issue

The MND is providing military assurance for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation through various measures
such as the military assurance for inter-Korean traffic and the operation of military communication lines. In
addition, the MND is striving to resolve the ROK prisoners of war (POWS) issue from a humanitarian perspective.
As inter-Korean traffic and contacts as well as cooperation activities are likely to increase in various fields in the
implementation of the Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration in September 2018, the
MND intends to actively undertake military assurance measures.

1. Military Assurance for Inter-Korean Exchange and

Cooperation Projects

| Overview | Through the Panmunjom Declaration, the two Koreas agreed to invigorate inter-
Korean exchange and cooperation in wide-ranging f ields and to encourage visits and contacts. Projects,
such as the establishment of a joint liaison off ice and modernization of the Donghae & Gyeongui line

railroads and roads are currently underway. The MND has fully restored and normalized the military
communi cation lines in the Eastern and Western Transportation Corridors to facilitate inter-Korean
traff ic and communi cation, thereby assuring exchange and cooperation activities between both sides.

Chapter 7
| Military Assurance for Inter-Korean Traffic |
Direct traf f ic between the two Koreas is

mostly by ground traff ic, with sea and air
routes used only occasionally. Roads and
railway within the joint administrative area

in the Eastern and Western Transportation
Corridors are the main ground routes used
Ground vehicles escorted across the joint administrative
by inter-Korean traf f ic. However, the railway area (Eastern Transportation Corridor)

Section 2 Military Assurance for Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation and Resolution of the ROK POW Issue 299