North, South Korea agreed to defuse military tensions along the border

North Korea and South Korea on 25 August 2015 reached an accord to diffuse military tensions between the two countries. Further, both the countries also agreed to take measures to improve bilateral relations.

The agreement was reached at the border village of Panmunjom after the inter-Korean high-level meeting that took place between 22 August and 24 August 2015.

Historically, Panmunjom assumed significance as the Koreas agreed to the 1953 ceasefire at this village that stopped fighting in the Korean War.

The tensions between the two countries were trigged by land mining explosions on 4 August 2015 along the South Korean part of the border that injured two South Korean military personnel.

Highlights of the bilateral agreement

• The South and the North agreed to hold meetings between government authorities at an early date, either in Seoul or in Pyongyang, that are aimed at improving inter-Korean relations, and to conduct dialogue and negotiations on a range of areas in the period ahead.
• The North expressed regret over the injuries of the soldiers of the South caused by the recent landmine explosions that took place in the southern area of the Demilitarized Zone along the Military Demarcation Line.
•As long as no abnormal incident occurs, the South agreed to suspend all loudspeaker broadcasts along the Military Demarcation Line, effective 12:00 pm. 25 August 2015.
• The North agreed to lift its quasi-state of war.
• The South and the North agreed to arrange reunions of separated families on the occasion of Chuseok and continue such reunions in the future and, to this end, to hold working-level Red Cross meetings in early September 2015.
• The South and the North agreed to boost non-governmental exchanges in a wide range of fields.

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