Seoul: Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced that the South Korean government is considering reducing the distance of the Civilian Control Line (CCL) from the inter-Korean border to as little as 5 kilometers. This initiative aims to alleviate the inconveniences faced by residents living in border regions.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Defense Minister Ahn made this statement during a parliamentary interpellation session focused on foreign affairs and security. He emphasized that this adjustment is part of the Lee Jae Myung government's efforts to address the property losses and daily challenges experienced by those residing near the border.
Historically, since the early 1970s, the CCL has been positioned at varying distances of 27 km, 20 km, 15 km, or 10 km south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), which is situated in the center of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The DMZ itself stretches approximately 250 km in length and 4 km in width, serving as a buffer zone between North and South Korea since the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953.