통일부 장관, 판문점•철거GP 점검...北, GP총격 사흘째 무반응<br /><br />South Korea's unification minister paid a visit to the inter-Korean border on Wednesday,... as questions continue to swirl over North Korea's recent shooting toward a South Korean guard post.<br />The ministry explained the visit was aimed at monitoring the area before resuming public tours, which have been halted since late last year following an outbreak of African swine fever.<br />Kim Hyo-sun reports.<br />Seoul's unification minister Kim Yeon-chul visited the inter-Korean truce village on Wednesday,... to which public tour programs have been suspended since last October due to the African swine fever outbreak across the country.<br />He also visited the former site of a guard post in the border town of Paju, which was dismantled following the inter-Korean military agreement signed in September 2018.<br />Among the guard posts that have been demolished,... this is the only area available for public tour.<br />"The quarantine authorities have decided on the guidelines, and with the minister's visit, we will soon have a definite date for the resumption of the tour schedule."<br />Once the country successfully overcomes the COVID-19 pandemic,... Seoul will also begin its plan of transforming the DMZ into a peace zone.<br />This is in line with the Panmunjeom Declaration signed by the leaders of two Koreas two years ago.<br />However, the minister's visit to the area sparked controversy as North Korea is staying silent regarding its shooting of a separate South Korean guard post located in the inter-Korean border on Sunday.<br />To this, the unification ministry explained the minister's visit was planned in advance.<br />The South Korean military and intelligence agency also put more weight on the view that the incident was accidental.<br />Regarding the shooting,... the UN Command explained Wednesday that it has launched an on-site investigation.<br />It explained the findings will be provided to the South Korean government and parts will also be disclosed to the public.<br />Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.<br />
