지난 9일 한강하구 공동수로조사 종료 행사에 참석한 남측 단장 윤창희 해병대 대령(오른쪽 두 번째)이 남측 조사선에 승선한 북측 조사단장 오명철 대좌(왼쪽 두 번째)에게 수로조사 결과를 설명하고 있다.

Following a joint field survey of the Hangang River estuary completed on Dec. 9, representatives from the two Koreas discuss the study’s results aboard a South Korean research vessel.

By Song Baleun and Lee Hana
Photos = Ministry of National Defense

While the U.S. and North Korea have entered a stalemate in negotiations on the North’s denuclearization, the two Koreas are pushing forward with two projects agreed upon in their inter-Korean summits this year.

In a first since the Korean War armistice was signed in 1953, the two Koreas on Dec. 9 completed a joint field survey of the Hangang River estuary.

The project was launched on Nov. 5 with a team of 10 waterway specialists from each Korea. For 35 days, the experts surveyed 660 km of waterways in South Korea, stretching from the village of Manu-ri in Paju, Gyeonggi-do Province, all the way to the village of Maldo-ri in Ganghwa-gun County, Incheon.

The survey discovered 21 sunken rocks that could pose a hazard to sailing vessels and measured the tidal changes of seven major waterways. Based on these results, the (South) Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency will prepare by Jan. 25 a provisional map for vessel navigation.

“Once off-limits to civilian vessels, Hangang River waterways are now open and we have the resources to turn them into peaceful routes,” said South Korean Vice National Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk. “We hope to complete a navigation map for the waterways and ensure a safe voyage for all private vessels.”

The Ministry of National Defense in Seoul stressed the significance of the inter-Korean field survey, a clause stipulated in the Agreement on the Implementation of the Historic Panmunjeom Declaration in the Military Domain concluded in September by both Koreas.

북측 조사선이 9일 한강하구 공동수로조사 종료행사를 마친 후 북측으로 귀환하고있다.

A North Korean research vessel on Dec. 9 heads back to the North after completing a joint field survey of the Hangang River estuary.

The two Koreas have also begun bilateral cooperation in forestry.

A South Korean group of forestry experts will visit Pyeongyang Dec. 11-13 to kick off the project.

Their visit was agreed upon during an inter-Korean meeting in October on forestry cooperation. The team will survey the North’s methods of controlling forest disease and pests and visit tree nurseries and forestry equipment factories there.

brightsong@korea.kr