Page 315 - 2020 Defence White Paper

Kaesong Industrial Complex, only to
be suspended in February 2016 follow-
ing the closure of the complex. Thanks
to the progress in relations between the
two Koreas, however, ground traffic
resumed with North Korean delega-
tions consisting of officials, athletes,
and cheering squads traveling to the Ground vehicles escorted across the joint
administrative area (West Transportation Corridor)
ROK via roads to participate in the
PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games in February 2018. As a
result, ground traffic through the Donghae and Gyeongui lines has been active due
to a separated families reunion event in Mt. Kumgang in August 2018, joint survey
on the roads of the Gyeongui and Donghae lines conducted in August and December
2018, and joint survey on the railways of the Gyeongui and Donghae lines conducted
between November and December 2018. Regular daily traffic was resumed in the
Joint Administrative Area in Transportation Corridor West as the two Koreas
opened the "Inter-Korean Liaison Office" in the Kaesong Industrial Complex on
September 14, 2018 according to the Panmunjom Declaration. In late January 2020,
however, as the operation of the Joint Liaison Office was temporarily suspended due
to COVID-19, ground traffic on the Gyeongui line was also suspended. If inter-
Korean ground traffic begins in earnest through improved inter-Korean relations and
invigorated exchanges and cooperation, the ROK Armed Forces will provide
military assurance in consultation with the UNC and the military authorities of

North Korea and continue to guard and escort inter-Korean traffic within the DMZ. Chapter 8
Maritime traffic was suspended in 2010 when North Korean vessels were banned
from operation in ROK waters as a result of the May 24 measures . However,
7)
maritime traffic was temporarily resumed in February 2018 when the Man Gyong
Bong 92 ferry that departed from Wonsan Harbor, carrying a North Korean art
7)
troupe sent to participate in the PyeongChang Olympics, was allowed to enter the Sanctions imposed by the
port of Mukho. Once maritime traffic is fully resumed, the ROK Armed Forces will ROK government against
North Korea in response
take the necessary military actions to guarantee the safety of vessels. to the sinking of the ROKS
Cheonan, announced
Air traffic has been mainly carried out via a direct route opened on a temporary on May 24, 2010, which
included prohibiting North
basis over the West Sea. A North Korean high-level delegation visiting the ROK Korean ships from sailing in
ROK waters, halting inter-
in February 2018 and a ROK delegation and an art troupe visiting North Korea Korean trade (excluding
the Kaesong Industrial
in March 2018 as well as the delegation visiting North Korea for the inter-Korean Complex), banning visits by
the ROK citizens to North
summit in Pyongyang in September used the temporary direct route over the West Korea, suspending new
ROK investments in North
Sea. A direct route opened on a temporary basis over the East Sea, on the other hand, Korea, and all aid projects.

Chapter 8. Military Support for the Settlement of Peace on the Korean Peninsula 313