China News Service, Seoul, November 4 (Reporter Zeng Nai) South Korea restarted Panmunjom travel on the border between South Korea and North Korea on the 4th.

　　In recent years, South Korea opened parts of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone to the public.

In 2018, South Korea and North Korea completed the disarmament of Panmunjom and agreed to promote the free movement of tourists there. However, after the negotiations on denuclearization between North Korea and the United States fell into a deadlock, South Korea and North Korea’s tourism cooperation was shelved.

Last year, South Korea resumed Panmunjom tourism for a short time. However, due to the African swine fever and the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Panmunjom tourism was interrupted again.

On October 25, 2018, South Korea and North Korea completed the disarmament of the Panmunjom Joint Security Zone.

According to the "<Panmunjom Declaration> Military Area Implementation Agreement" signed by South Korea and North Korea in September this year, after the joint security area is disarmed, Koreans and foreign tourists can freely enter and leave the area from 9 am to 5 pm daily.

Photo courtesy of South Korean Ministry of Defense

　　According to news from the Ministry of Unification of South Korea on the 4th, South Korea restarted Panmunjom travel on the border between South Korea and North Korea that day.

　　South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young said at the opening ceremony that Panmunjom was once a military restricted zone, but now it has become a window of contact between South Korea and North Korea.

He said that the dialogue between South Korea and North Korea has been temporarily suspended. In order to restore trust and develop North-South relations, new issues have been proposed to us.

　　When it comes to cooperation between South Korea and North Korea, Li Renrong expressed his hope that the North-South communication line and the South-North Korea liaison office will be restarted as soon as possible to establish continuous communication channels; realize free exchanges in the Panmunjom area; and hold reunion activities for separated families in Panmunjom.

　　According to the South Korean side, in order to facilitate the visit, the restart of Panmunjom tourism has simplified the application conditions. For example, the application time has been reduced from 60 days in advance to two weeks in advance.

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