Diplomacy between North Korea and the U.S. has gone off the boil in recent months,... but the two Koreas are taking significant steps to reduce tensions.
Holding up its side of a military agreement signed in September, North Korea destroyed several of its guard posts along the heavily-fortified DMZ on Tuesday.
Kan Hyeong-woo reports.

On Tuesday, North Korea blew up 10 guard posts on its side of the Demilitarized Zone.

Seoul's defense ministry says it was informed in advance by North Korea through the military communication channel that it would simultaneously destroy the guard posts with explosives at 3 PM.

Last week, the South Korean Army began removing 10 of its own guard posts.
On both sides the guard posts are within one kilometer of the Military Demarcation Line.

Their destruction was part of the comprehensive military agreement signed by the top military leaders from the two Koreas in September,... and they're expected to finish tearing them down by the end of this month.

Originally, the deal was for each side to take down 11 guard posts,... but the two Koreas agreed to preserve one each for its historic and symbolic value.

Once the removal of the guard posts is done on both sides, the two Koreas will carry out joint inspections of the demolition next month.

South Korea currently has 60 guard posts in the DMZ,... while the North has about 160.
Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News.