(LEAD) Defense chief calls for border troops' watertight posture after N.K.'s DMZ gunfire
(ATTN: RECASTS headline; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo visited the Ground Operations Command on Monday and called on troops near inter-Korean border areas to maintain a watertight combat posture, his office said.
His visit to the command in Yongin, southeast of Seoul, came after a May 3 incident inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where four bullets from North Korea hit a South Korean guard post (GP) in the central border town of Cheorwon, leading South Korean troops to return fire.
Most of the inter-Korean border areas are the Army command's area of responsibility.
"Units in charge of operations for GPs and GOPs should ensure a full military readiness posture to perfectly respond to any circumstances," Jeong said. GOP means a general outpost located along the southern limit line, while GPs are inside the buffer zone.
The minister also stressed the military's role in establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula and its efforts to fully implement the inter-Korean military agreement signed in 2018.
"Most of the planned projects (under the peace initiative) are to take place in border areas. So, the command should work closely with ministries concerned to ensure the security and safety of visitors," the minister said.
Those projects include the resumption of a tour program to the truce village of Panmunjom and the extension of the trail courses of the DMZ Peace Trail programs.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
-
Ateez to drop new Japanese EP next week
-
(2nd LD) BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award
-
Crypto investor probed over allegedly visiting house of Terraform's CEO
-
(2nd LD) N. Korea still unresponsive to S. Korea's outreach for talks on COVID-19: official
-
S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
-
(5th LD) Yoon, Biden agree to expand joint military exercises to cope with N.K. threats
-
(LEAD) Yoon, PPP lawmakers travel to Gwangju en masse to commemorate 1980 democracy uprising
-
(LEAD) At least 8 injured in S-Oil refinery explosion in Ulsan: firefighters
-
(LEAD) Biden set to arrive in S. Korea for first summit with Yoon
-
U.S. not considering adding S. Korea to Quad: official
-
Chinese people purchase nearly 7,000 buildings in S. Korea in 2021
-
Biden says he and Yoon 'married up'
-
(2nd LD) Yoon, Biden tout alliance during visit to Air Force operations center
-
First lady Kim to greet Biden before state dinner