Unification ministry to discuss resuming Panmunjom tours with UNC

In the file photo taken April 19, 2018, South Korean and US soldiers stand guard at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, north of Seoul, ahead of the historic inter-Korean summit talks at the village on April 27. (Yonhap)

The unification ministry said Monday it will begin discussions with the US-led United Nations Command (UNC) to resume tours to the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom as South Korea began its “living with COVID-19” scheme meant to phase out coronavirus restrictions amid a rising vaccination rate.

Tours to Panmunjom, or the Joint Security Area (JSA), were suspended in July after health authorities imposed the toughest virus curbs in the greater Seoul area, home to half of the country’s 52 million population.

“We are beginning discussions with the UNC and other related organizations on the resumption of tours to Panmunjom,” ministry spokesperson Lee Jong-joo said during a regular press briefing.

The move is in line with South Korea’s implementation of its first step to get back to normal life Monday on the back of a rising vaccination rate at over 75 percent.

Under the living with COVID-19 policy, South Korea plans to lift most of the virus curbs in phases by the end of January. (Yonhap)

Unification ministry to discuss resuming Panmunjom tours with UNC
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