MOD presses exchange of military agreement upon North

The Ministry of Defense (MOD) Wednesday said it urged on two occasions North Korea to sign and exchange the agreement on the military guarantee for the construction work of Kyongui railroad line and road in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) at an earliest possible date. The signing and exchange of the inter-Korean agreement has been delayed by the northern side which has not yet come with any due explanation.

In a report to the Defense Committee of the National Assembly, the ministry said it sent a telephone message to the North on Mar. 9 and Apr. 11, respectively, reminding the North that it is urgent to sign and exchange the agreement between the United Nations Command and North Korean People`s Army. Yet, the North has not yet shown any response.

The ministry also said in the report that the construction of the railroad beds in the southern region of the military demarcation line shows a progress of 63 percent and that of the new road 46 percent as of present. The work is expected to complete at the end of July, it added.

Meanwhile, North Korea recently conducted tactics training of the annual average at the units below the level of brigade, but has not have large-scaled mobile exercise in which units above the brigade participate, the ministry reported.

Lee Chol-Hi klimt@donga.com