Page 310 - 2020 Defence White Paper

passing through the MDL. However, as inter-Korean relations stalled following the
US–North Korea summit in Hanoi, joint inter-Korean remains recovery operations
were first carried out in the southern side of Arrowhead Hill from April to the end
of November 2019. As a result, the ROK Armed Forces was able to recover 260
remains (approximate) and 67,000 artifacts. In addition, from April to November
2020, in preparation for joint inter-Korean remains recovery operations, the ROK
Armed Forces removed landmines and conducted recovery on the southern side of
Arrowhead Hill to recover additional 140 sets of remains (approximate) and 17,000
artifacts.
In relation to the joint use of the Han River estuary, an inter-Korean joint waterway
survey was conducted in the estuary from November 5 to December 9, 2018.
Through the survey, the two Koreas found more than 20 reefs and confirmed various
kinds of information on the section spanning 600 kilometers where the survey
was conducted. Taking into account the results of the inter-Korean joint waterway
survey, the ROK Armed Forces laid the foundation for the freedom of navigation of
civilian ships in the Han River estuary by making a nautical chart of the estuary and
providing this chart directly to North Korea on January 30, 2019.
At the 10th inter-Korean general officer-level talks held on October 26, 2018,
the military authorities of the ROK and North Korea agreed to draw up a "plan
to organize and operate the Inter-Korean Joint Military Committee" under the
"Agreement on the Composition and Operation of the Inter-Korean Military
Committee" agreed upon by both parties in May 1992. As a high-level military
consultative body, the Inter-Korean Joint Military Committee will be headed by a

vice ministerial-level official or higher, and the agenda subject to discussion will
include various pending military issues that require discussion between the military
authorities of the two Koreas, including those specified in the CMA.
While maintaining a robust military readiness posture, the ROK Armed Forces
will shape the conditions for the CMA to be effectively implemented in order to
reduce military tensions and build confidence between the two Koreas, thereby
continuing to contribute to the momentum behind the "Korean Peninsula peace
process".

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