South Korea to shift civilian border line north to ease life near North Korea

South Korea said it will move its Civilian Control Line an average of about 6 kilometers north, closer to the border with North Korea, in an effort to reduce the restricted area and ease daily life for residents near the frontier. The line currently runs as far as 10 kilometers south of the Military Demarcation Line set at the end of the 1950 to 1953 Korean War, and entry into the area between the two lines requires military approval.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said the change comes after years of requests from local residents and reflects a “improvement in the country’s security readiness.” Local media reported that about 20,000 people live in the restricted zone, while others enter it for farming and work only after receiving special permits.

The Defense Ministry also announced further easements in border areas, including reducing reporting requirements for operating drones for agricultural purposes. The move is part of a series of steps by President Lee Jae-myung’s liberal government aimed at lowering tensions with North Korea, even though Pyongyang continues to take an openly hostile line toward the South.