Building a Peace Belt in the South-North Korean Border Region

Home , Gyeonggi region, Imjin River, Imnam Dam, Paju, Provinces of North Korea, Yeongseo

2. AN OUTLINE OF THE KOREAN HOUSING MARKET

KRIHS SPECIAL REPORTS 2006 Young-Bong Kim

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Anyang : Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, 2006 p.cm Includes bibliographical references ISBN 89-8182-405-3 Building a Peace Belt in the South-North Korean Border Region

FOREWORD

The world has entered the era of cross-border interactions and cooperation as globalization and trade liberalization accelerate. On the other hand, with regional economic blocs increasingly formulated, far fiercer competition is expected around the world. Within the Northeast Asian region that surrounds the Korean peninsula, exchanges of people and goods are growing with the rapid economic growth of China, stable and booming economy of Russia and the North Korea’s move to open up its market.

The relationship between South and North Korea has been unstable with interactions and confrontations, cooperations and break-offs alternating over the past half a century. However, the South-North Korea Summit in June 2000, and the following June 15th Joint Declaration brought the relations back to a track of cooperation, and there has been more active exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in recent years both at the citizens’ and government levels. In particular, there has been a substantial progress in the exchanges as shown in such examples as the cooperative projects of the Mt. Geumgang Tourism Development and Gaesung Industrial Complex going on in the heavily fortified border area, the rail link between Gyeongui Line and Donghae Line, and the installation of a meeting place in Mt. Geumgang.

Recently, the tension on the Korean peninsula has increased as the six-party talks for a peaceful settlement of the North Korean nuclear issue has been in a deadlock. However, the official channel for the dialogue between the two Koreas remains open, and the government’s efforts for a better relationship are gradually rewarded. The exchanges and cooperation in the private sector are also expanding. In this context, people’s interest in a peaceful use of and exchanges in the heavily fortified border area is growing. In particular, their expectations are high of using the area as a place for exchanges and cooperation which will contribute to an improved relationship between South and North Korea, and peace settlement on the Korean peninsula.

I expect this study will contribute to the activation of the exchanges between South and North Korea and tension alleviation on the Korean peninsula through the research on the Peace Belt construction in the border area. I sincerely hope that based on this and other efforts, the inter-Korean relationships further improve and peace settles on the Korean peninsula.

Byung-Sun Choe President Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements Building a Peace Belt in the South-North Korean Border Region Contents

3 Foreword

7 Summary

8 1. Research Outline 8 1) Background 9 2) Purpose of the research

10 2. Need for Building a Peace Belt 10 1) Concept of the Peace Belt 11 2) Expected role of the Peace Belt 14 3) Status of the Peace Belt

18 3. Conditions of the Border Region for Building a Peace Belt 18 1) General Conditions of the Border Region 19 2) Potentials and Conditions for Exchanges and Cooperation

22 4. Cooperation Zone and Projects Selection for a Peace Belt 22 1) Basic Directions 23 2) Cooperation Zone Selection 26 3) Cooperation Projects Selection

29 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt 29 1) Establishment of the Promotion Stages 30 2) Promotion Plans for Each Stage 32 3) Promotion Plans for Each Project 48 4) Plans for Systematic Support

51 6. Conclusions

52 References

Building a Peace Belt in the South-North Korean Border Region

Summary

This study aims to suggest concrete measures to be taken for the cooperation between South and North Korea in their border region through Peace Belt establishment. The need and feasibility of building a Peace Belt in the border region, including the Demilitarized Zone, is examined in the paper. An integrated cooperation plan is suggested for developing the border region such as plans for cooperatively using the resources, conserving the natural environment, and designating and developing the Cooperation Zones. Other cooperative projects included in the plan are traffic network connection, natural disaster prevention, and excavation and restoration of the cultural and historic heritages in the region. Through the careful and thorough examination on the potential Peace Belt in the border region, the study is expected to contribute to the appropriate and rational utilization of the national territory and the settlement of peace on the Korean peninsula, with the belt laying a strengthened foundation for inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation.

Keywords: DMZ, MDL, Cooperation Zone, Peace Belt, cooperation project

117 1. Research Outline

1) Background

The South-North Joint Declaration adopted in June 2000 through a historic summit conference between South and North Korea not only eased the tension but also advanced the limited exchanges between the two nations run by the private sector into the extensive ones which receive active support from their governments, and opened up a new era of reconciliation and cooperation between the two nations.1) Although cooperation for the South-North exchanges has encountered difficulty in its promotion due to domestic and international influences such as the nuclear issue, the main flow for the reconciliation and cooperation between the South and North has continued. In particular, progress of the exchanges and cooperation project in the border region, in which the fiercest battle took place during the Korean War and a large scale of the armed forces of South and North Korea confront each other after the truce, is epochal and encouraging. Moreover, a series of events which took place in the border area between the two countries, such as commencement of the Mt. Geumgang overland tour, construction of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, and re-connection of the severed traffic network in the demilitarized zone (DMZ), brighten the prospects for the exchanges and cooperation project between the South and North. The border part is a military operation zone for the armies of both sides and an area which has received very limited development in terms of land use. On the other hand, considering the centrality and high development potential, the region can be regarded as an area which requires systematic preparation for the joint land use by South and North Korea and the natural environmental conservation, for the exchanges and cooperation project to be carried out in the region. Therefore, considering that the South and North exchanges and cooperation can be actively promoted in the region from now on, an institutional research is required which can indicate the rudimentary and overall direction to possible projects which South and North Korea promote collaboratively in the region. The principles of the Fourth Comprehensive National Territorial Plan of Korea (2000-2020) which has been implemented to achieve the comprehensive national territory in the 21st century are the integration among different regions, between the two

1) The historic South-North Korea Summit was held on June 15, 2000 in Pyungyang, North Korea. Then President of South Korea Daejung Kim and Jungil Kim, leader of North Korea adopted the June 15 Joint Declaration here.

128 1. Research Outline

divided states, and with the Northeast Asian region. Especially in ‘the comprehensive management and establishment of a Peace Belt in the border region’, stated as a detailed article, comprehensive management and establishment of the “Peace Belt” on the Korean peninsula, in the short and mid term, are promoted for the border place in order to keep development, conservation and security in harmony. Thus, we should be ready for utilizing the border region in order to keep peace between South and North Korea by institutionally preparing for the expansion and progress of the exchanges and cooperation between the two nations through practical and concrete research. In addition, as the plan for building a foundation for unification in the border region is systematically established with the enactment of the Border Area Support Act (January 21, 2000), it is urgent to conduct a survey by region and sector on development and promotion of the joint project in the border region and develop a plan to utilize the region, in order to systematically implement the plan. Above all, plans for cooperation between South and North Korea for conservation of the valuable eco-system in the DMZ and surrounding border region and comprehensive countermeasures for the issue should be established in preference.

2) Purpose of the research

This research intends to establish a foundation for exchanges and cooperation between South and North Korea and a plan for peace and harmony through the joint land use and environmental conservation in the border region between the two nations, in order to take a stage further the exchanges and cooperation which have been carried out so far. To achieve the purpose, this research, first of all, intends to develop a conceptual framework which can establish and support a peaceful usage condition through the expansion of the cooperation projects in the border region. These follow the Mt. Geumgang tourism development project, Gyeong-ui and Dong- hae railway and road connection project, and so on. Second, the research will conceive a plan for the joint usage of resources and institutional environmental conservation in the border area and propose a concrete cooperation plan between South and North Korea. Third, the research intends to establish a plan for the integrated usage and conservation of the border region in order to build a Peace Belt in the region as provided in the Fourth Comprehensive National Territorial Plan.

119 2. Need for Building a Peace Belt

1) Concept of the Peace Belt

The Peace Belt is a compound of the words peace and belt. It is not a terminology widely used in general. On the whole, the Peace Belt can be understood as the space which leads to or establishes peace by easing the tension between South and North Korea, in the distinctive situation the Korean peninsula is faced with. The Peace Belt refers to the space specially established to create and spread peace. In other words, the Peace Belt is the space for a national policy, the space which creates peace in the region where violence proliferates or political and military tension exists, and which is built consciously and purposefully to raise the peaceful atmosphere at the same time.2) Geographically, the Peace Belt applies to the border region between South and North Korea-the DMZ and adjacent areas surrounding the zone. In terms of its purpose and function, it refers to the region for exchanges, cooperation and peace between the two nations and, furthermore, the region which signifies harmony, prosperity and peace, and where the world encounters altogether.

〈Figure 1〉Potential Peace Belt

Hweyang Pankyo Sepo Geumgang North Korea Goseong

South Korea Changdo Seoheung Singye Icheon Pyeonggang Kimhwa Goseong Pyeongsan Cheorwon Tosan Cheorwon Yanggu Hwacheon Bongcheon Keumcheon Inje Janpung Yeoncheon

Pocheon Bacheon Gaepung Dongducheon Chuncheon Panmun Paju Yangju Gaesung Gapyeong

Ganghwa Uijeongbu Demilitarized Zone Goyang Gimpo Namyangju Military Installation Protection Area Guri 0 10 20 30 Kilometers Incheon Seoul Hanam

1012 2. Need for Building a Peace Belt

2) Expected role of the Peace Belt

(1) Revitalization of exchanges and cooperation between South and North Korea

The border region of South and North Korea has sufficient infrastructure which can support exchanges and cooperation, such as transportation, communication, water and power. Therefore, the border region is a place where it is better to implement the exchanges and cooperation than any other region on the Korean peninsula, and which has a high synergy effect for openness and change. Once the exchanges and cooperation between South and North Korea in the border region succeed at a pilot project level, it will be possible to find and implement follow-up projects and facilitate economic integration between the nations. Legal and institutional support required for the success is to make the border region a Peace Belt. North Korea is still concerned about unification through absorption by South Korea which, on the other hand, does not rule out the possibility of unexpected military uprising in North Korea. In the cir- cumstances, establishing a base for the South-North exchanges and cooperation by making the border region a Peace Belt will be one of the most effective measures to enhance the exchanges and cooperation in various sectors. If the border region rises as a base for the exchanges and cooperation, facilitating economic, social and cultural exchanges, the region can be used as a testing stand for the integration of South and North Korea, or establishment of the national community. Moreover, it is expected that making the border place a Peace Belt itself will bring in positive effects of easing the political and military confrontation between the two nations and preventing the raise of military tension in the current situation where the tension has been intensified due to the nuclear issue and so on.

(2) Building trust and easing military tension between South and North Korea

The DMZ has a quasi-international character which makes it difficult for either South or North Korea to exercise jurisdiction one-sidedly, this is because it is a buffer zone as well as a neutral territory between the two nations. Therefore, if the military threat from the other side decreases and the control over the treat is ensured, there is a possibility that both nations will respond to the peaceful use of the zone, without much political liability. The currently promoted connection of the Gyeong-ui railway and

2) Galtung, J. (1969: 167-191).

1111 surrounding roads is an example of the South-North cooperation project which shows the peaceful use of the DMZ. So are the Gaeseong Industrial Complex project and Mt. Geumgang overland tour promotion. From the standpoint of North Korea whose great- est national goal is to maintain its system and survive, it will not have a reason to oppose or avoid the building of a Peace Belt in the border region as long as it is ensured that negative effects which can lead to the overturn of the national system can be controlled and that North Korea can get economic benefits by using the existing infrastructure of the cities adjacent to the DMZ. For the past few decades, the border region has been abandoned or neglected. However, if used effectively, the region can be a means to build trust for both nations. In other words, it can be a good measure to solve the deep-rooted distrust both nations have toward each other and the state of confrontation. In particular, should the Peace Belt building work be started on a full scale in the border region, some of the two nations’ troops and fortresses which face each other may be withdrawn or relocated to the rear. As a result, it is expected to ease military tension through the expansion of the buffer zone.

(3) Change to the peace state and establishment of foundation for unification

Demilitarizing and using the DMZ for peace are the basic premise for discussing the issue of changing the current state of armistice treaty to the state of peace. In particular, withdrawal of the armed forces located in the front of the DMZ, demilitarization of the zone, and preservation of the 4km DMZ mean conforming to the armistice treaty; furthermore, promotion of the peaceful use of the border region by making it a Peace Belt will contribute to creating an atmosphere for the change to the peace state. The demilitarization and peaceful use of the border region including the DMZ can contribute to the change to the state of peace for the following three reasons. Firstly, as the armed forces of both nations which face each other retreat from the front, the possibility of military confrontation can be reduced. Secondly, peaceful atmosphere can be created as the plan raises the buffer function of the DMZ, contributing to keeping peace in the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). Third, the plan restricts the possibility of attempting an uprising or unification by armed forces, for the both parties. In particular, the plan can control a sudden attack from North Korea as it makes the underground passage operation of North Korea harder. To sum up, demilitarization and peaceful use of the border region including the DMZ can lead to and facilitate change to the state of peace based on the conflict settlement by the concerned parties since it will contribute to the peace maintenance in the MDL.

12 2. Need for Building a Peace Belt

(4) Improvement in the quality of life for the border region residents

If developed into a strategic point for a variety of logistics transport and its development and growth potential utilized, the border region which was neglected for a long time can bring in economic benefits to the two nations. Especially, should tourism resources of the border region be developed, attracting domestic or foreign tourists in a large scale, the income of the residents will increase removing the need for large new investment. That is, such development can contribute to improving the quality of life for the border region residents. For the past half a century, the border region has fallen behind in terms of development and welfare due to the military and security logic. Such sufferings from the national division should not be pressed on the residents of the region any more. Building a Peace Belt in the border region and promoting development and growth as a result are also desirable in terms of efficient land use and effective resource utilization. In particular, should the nature of the unfrequented border part be used well as it is, it will be helpful in preserving the environment and turning the region itself into a resource.

(5) Facilitating economic cooperation in Northeast Asia

Building a Peace Belt in the border region and promoting the concrete South-North cooperation project can benefit other nations in Northeast Asia as well as South and North Korea, in the short and mid term. The standpoint of the nations surrounding the Korean peninsula is also moving toward supporting the development and peaceful use of the border region including the DMZ, because those nations hope to see the exchanges and cooperation begin in the DMZ and surrounding regions, and the effects of these activities spread to Northeast Asia as well as South and North Korea, let alone those nations’ wish for stability and peace in the Korean peninsula. That China, Russia and Japan have a deep interest in the connection of the Gyeong-ui and Gyeong-won railway supports this claim. In short, turning the border place into a Peace Belt and enhancing the exchanges and cooperation between South and North can play a positive role in facilitating and leading the multilateral economic cooperation in Northeast Asia. In particular, such activities can also promote a multilateral project in the sectors such as environment, horticulture and agriculture in which the surrounding nations participate, in the neutral territory such as the DMZ.

1113 3) Status of the Peace Belt

(1) International Law perspective

The DMZ which exists in the form of a belt was established by the Korea armistice treaty (hereinafter, the armistice treaty) concluded-signed and come into effect-in July 27, 1953 to end the armed confrontation, or Korean War, which lasted for three years from June 1950 to July 1953 on the Korean peninsula. In the zone will the Peace Belt will be built. The establishment of the DMZ, built pursuant to this armistice treaty, is based on the Article 1 of the treaty, the MDL and DMZ. This Article stipulates the establishment and location of the MDL and DMZ, and the purpose of the establishment of the DMZ. First of all, the section 1 of the Article 1 of the armistice treaty stipulates that “one MDL shall be decided, and both parties retreat 2km from the line respectively by establishing one DMZ between the contending troops”. It specifies the establishment and scope of the DMZ as a buffer zone between the enemy parties. After that, the armistice treaty regulates the location and outer limit of the DMZ. That is, in the section 2 and 3 of the Article 1, the commander of each party pledges to decide on the location of the MDL and on the borderline north and south from the DMZ, or northern limit line and southern limit line respectively, based on the map attached to the armistice treaty. In other words, the legal basis for the establishment of the DMZ is the Article 1 and 3 of the armistice treaty. The armistice treaty is based on the International Law which takes North Korea and China as one party and South Korea and UN as the other. Therefore, the DMZ was established not by an agreement between South and North Korea or any other domestic laws but by the International Law, or the armistice treaty. The purpose of the DMZ establishment, as stated above, is to curb recurrence of the confrontation by making a buffer zone. The role of the zone is firstly, curbing a direct clash between the two nations by providing a buffer zone between them, as the latter part of the section 1 of the Article 1 of the treaty states: to make the buffer zone to prevent an event which can cause the recurrence of confrontation; and secondly, controlling the attempt to attack each other by making a segregation space that is under surveillance by both parties. Without permission of the military armistice commission, not a soldier or civilian can go beyond the MDL under the section 7 of the Article 1 of the treaty.

(2) Perspective from the two concerned parties, South and North Korea

As mentioned above, the direct legal basis for the establishment of the DMZ is the armistice treaty concluded in July 1953. However, the DMZ is coherently related to the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement as a secondary basis, which took effect in February 1992. It is because the Article 5 of the agreement stipulates that the current armistice 1412 2. Need for Building a Peace Belt

treaty will be conformed to until the state changes from truce to peace. In other words, the retention and preservation of the DMZ established by the armistice treaty have been confirmed and ensured by the Inter-Korean Basic Agreement. If South and North Korea agree to make the border region including the DMZ into a Peace Belt, the region will change to a subject of agreement and joint control by the South and North Korean authorities. In this case, the DMZ will become a place controlled by three pacts: the armistice treaty, Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, and the tentatively named, ‘the Agreement between the Authorities on Making the Border Region of South and North Korea into a Peace Belt’. However, the other part of the border region will be under the application and rule of the last agreement. Whether the border region will become the joint jurisdiction zone or each baili- wick will be under the corresponding authority, is entirely subject to the agreement of the two authorities. However, judging from the process of implementing the agreement between the UN Command and the North Korean army, and the detailed agreement at the South and North Korean military working-level talks, North Korea is very passive at opening the region on its side and creating a joint jurisdiction zone between South and North Korea. For the time being, it seems appropriate to regard the attitude as being so, considering North Korea’s manner on the issue of opening the MDL for the mine removal operation on the Gyeongui railway.

(3) Geopolitical and spatial-planning perspective

In terms of the regional characteristics as national land resources, the border region between South and North Korea proposed for a Peace Belt building has a high development potential as it is located in the center of the country. Since the main traffic network passes this region, the two countries are easily connected in here. In addition, the region, complete with a special ecological environment, has a high conservational value. As a region for exchanges and cooperation between South and North, the Peace Belt is where the two nations can enhance the economic cooperation between them; use the national land resources efficiently; deal with natural disasters together; exca- vate and preserve historical sites; preserve and manage the environment; and cooper- ate with each other. At the same time, it is the region which can create peace and lead to further exchanges and cooperation, contributing to the actualization of reconciliation and cooperation on the Korean peninsula. South Korea regulates that the region from the MDL to the Military Installations Protection Area is the border region which is located in the neighborhood of the DMZ. It consists of the northern area of the Civilian Control Line adjacent to the DMZ and the southern area of the Line, the Military Installations Protection Area. North Korea does not provide any regulations concerning the border area; however, it has been 1115 〈Table 1〉Status of the Peace Belt

understood as having a region where the civilian access is restricted in a certain area some 20km from the North Line Limit. In particular, the DMZ, as mentioned earlier, has been established pursuant to the armistice treaty, made up of an area where military installations were retreated 2km, south and north respectively, from the MDL, or the armistices line, and managed by the military armistice commission.

1612 2. Need for Building a Peace Belt

〈Figure 2〉Conceptual Scheme of the Peace Belt

1117 3. Conditions of the Border Region for Building a Peace Belt

1) General conditions of the border region

The border region refers to the MDL formed in accordance with the armistice treaty in July 27, 1953 and surrounding regions, and consists of the armistice line area, northern section of the Civilian Control Line and cities and towns adjacent to the Civilian Con- trol Line. The MDL is the line, centering around the action station line between the UN and North Korean armies, drawn 248km (155 miles) on land, upon the declaration of truce. It connects the utmost island of Ganghwa-gun and Myungho-ri of Goseong- gun and stretches approximately 200km on the sea to the Baengnyeong Island. With this line in the middle, a 4km-broad DMZ was established. The DMZ is the area (approximately 907km2) where South and North Korean military installations were retreated 2km, respectively, from the armistice line in accordance with the armistice treaty (July 27, 1953), and the southern part of the zone is managed by the UN military armistice commission. The northern part is the area (1,703km2) designated within the 15km from the southern section of the MDL, the area where general activities including access to civilians are restricted, while the Military Installations Protection Area is the region (approximately 4,904km2) designated within 25km from the southern part of the MDL and divided into the control protection zone and the restricted protection zone. In case of South Korea, the border region is designated in 15 cities (si) and towns (gun) of Incheon city, Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do (Ongjin-gun, Ganghwa-gun, Dongducheon-si, Goyang-si, Gimpo-si, Paju-si, Yangju-gun, Yeoncheon-gun, Chun- cheon-si, Cheorwon-gun, Hwacheon-gun, Yangu-gun, Inje-gun and Goseong-gun) in terms of the administrative district. The border quarter is largely divided into the DMZ, southern part of the Civilian Control Area and the northern part of the Area. The entire northern part and part of the southern part is designated and managed as the Military Installations Protection Area. The border region of North Korea does not have regulations like the South but has been understood as having a region, a certain area (approximately 20km) from the Northern Line of Limit, where access to civilians are restricted. Yeonan-gun, Baecheon-gun, Gaeseong-si, Gaepung-gun, Panmun-gun, Jangpung-gun, Cheorwon- gun, Pyeonggang-gun, Gimhwa-gun, Changdo-gun, Geumgang-gun and Goseong- gun area in the North Korean border region are the travel restriction area in North Korea, and the establishment is similar to that of the Military Installations Protection 1812 3. Conditions of the Border Region for Building a Peace Belt

Area in the border region of South Korea starting from the MDL, pursuant to the military facilities protection act. In 1991, North Korea took the foreigner travel regulation measure which specifies in detail the section prohibited from visiting and the area which can be visited by car for foreigners. According to this measure, there are eight regions prohibited to foreigners from visiting, Sangwon-gun of Pyungyang-si, Wonsan, Sariwon, the area south of Sincheon in Hwanghae-do, the area north of Chungcheon River in Northern Pyungan-do, the area north of Heechun in Jagang-do and the area within 20km from cities, towns and the seashore near the MDL or border, and these eight areas take up approximately 40% of North Korea. There are six routes which can be visited by car, Pyungyang-Pyungsung-Suncheon-Gaecheon-Gusang-Mt. Myohyang, Pyungyang- Wonsan Highway-Tongcheon-Goseong-Mt. Geumgang, Pyungyang-Gaeseong High- way-Panmunjeom, Pyungyang-Pyungwon-Sukcheon-Mundeok-Sinanju-Anju, Pyungyang-Nampo Highway and Pyungyang-Jungwa-Hwangju-Sariwon-Sincheon. For the transport facilities in the border region which connect South and North Korea, six routes including the state road No. 1, 3, 5, 7, 31 and 43 are the main connecting passages, and, other than those, six routes of the regional road and four routes of the railway exist. However, currently, Gyungui and Donghae railways and the state road No. 1 and 7, for which the reconnection work is under progress, all of them have been severed near the southern part of the Civilian Control Line.3)

2) Potentials and conditions for exchanges and cooperation

The following are the evaluation of potential and understanding of the conditions for exchanges and cooperation, through analysis of the geographical, economic and social strength, weakness, opportunity and threat showed by the border region in promoting the exchanges and cooperation between South and North. The strength is that the border district is the center for human and physical exchanges as it is the connection point for the continent as well as South and North Korea due to the passing of main traffic network of the countries. Historically, the region has a lot of valuable cultural and historic sites as the powers competed against each other in this sector to rule the center of the Korean peninsula, and is a treasure- house for the nature as the natural environment has been preserved due to the restric-

3) At the end of 2005, two Koreas completed the re-connection of the railways which was agreed on at the first round of the ministerial level meeting that followed the South-North Summit in 2000. The trial runs of the railways are expected in the near future.

1119 tion and regulation of access for a half century. In particular, since rare ecological resources on the verge of extinction have been found there, the region is deemed as having precious resources which have a high conservational value and, furthermore, can be used as sources for research and tourism. At the same time, establishing the Military Installations Protection Area for the military operation has stored vast land resources undeveloped in the middle of the national land, making them into assets which can be used in the future. Besides, the region has a high potential for economic development as it is close to the national capital area, the center for economy and a huge market and also to the market of Northeast Asia economic area. In particular, international organizations have a high interest in the DMZ in order to designate it as the border life conservation area, raising potential of the region and conditions of the exchanges and cooperation between the two armistice nations through conservation and use of the ecological system. The weaknesses of the border region are that the region does not have sufficient infrastructure such as traffic network, is underdeveloped due to restrictions on access and economic activities caused by the establishment of the Military Installations Pro- tection Area, and has a very poor living condition as a result. In addition, strict regulations on the location of industry hinder the regional industry. Above all, the military facilities concentrated in this area have become a large obstacle to the normal development of the region, and the military operation and training frequently conducted has caused a great inconvenience to the life in the region and difficulty in playing a role as the place for South-North exchanges and cooperation. On the other hand, the exchanges and cooperation project and regional development activities in the region will damage the beautiful nature of the DMZ and border regions which has been preserved for the past half century. For the opportunity factor, the prospect of the exchanges and cooperation of South and North Korea is good as those activities have been ceaselessly implemented despite difficult domestic and international situations and projects in a large scale such as Mt. Geumgang tour, reconnection of the traffic network of Gyeongui and Donghae railway and establishment of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex have been conducted. Especially, the Mt. Geumgang Tourism District Act and the Gaeseong Industrial Complex District Act announced in November 20, 2002, can be seen as a preparation for the systematic devices in order to enhance the exchanges and cooperation of the South and North. Moreover, establishment of the Border Area Support Act (January 21, 2000) and the comprehensive development plan which followed the Act show that the conditions for playing a role as the base for exchanges and cooperation between the two nations are being developed. At the same time, due to the progress in the exchanges and cooperation among nations in the Yellow Sea and Donghae-rim region, a good international condition has been developed.

2012 3. Conditions of the Border Region for Building a Peace Belt

The threats are the uncertainties of the nuclear issue of North Korea, which are the biggest obstacle to the relations of South and North Korea, and a war threat, which arose from the uncertainties, domestically and internationally. One of the largest diffi- culties in exchanges and cooperation in this quarter is a discord with the promotion of the exchanges and cooperation project and, also, that the policy on investment in North Korea, focused on the logic of economy, can choose the development of the West Coast area preferentially rather than the border part. If investment in the border region is promoted with its focus on developing a region falling behind, discontent of other straggling regions may increase. At the same time, concern of the North Korean military authorities on the enhancement of exchanges and cooperation in the region is another threat.

〈Table 2〉Potentials and Conditions for Exchanges and Cooperation

1121 4. Cooperation Zone and Projects Selection for a Peace Belt

1) Basic directions

Selection of the Cooperation Zone and project for promoting peaceful exchanges and cooperation in the border region should be conducted with the emphasis on increas- ing mutual benefits for South and North Korea. Considering uniqueness of the border area, the following basic directions have been established. First, a project which is related to the Cooperation Zone for enhancing exchanges and cooperation in the border region and which can increase mutual benefits for both countries shall be promoted with priority in order to lead the North to participate in the project. As the promotion of the exchanges and cooperation project in this region needs a mutual agreement and the transfer of the armed forces should precede selection of the exchanges and Cooperation Zone, the project has to be able to increase special mutual benefits. Second, the focus of the exchanges and cooperation between two Koreas shall be on the increase of perpetual peace and harmony for both nations. As exchanges and cooperation in the border region, an area of military confrontation where large-scale armies are densely aggregated centering around the DMZ, are very symbolic of the unity of South and North Korea, the project should be promoted with its emphasis on the perpetual peace and harmony of both nations in preference over mutual economic benefits. Third, the eco-friendly use of the national land, which demonstrates the maxi- mum potential of the central region of the nation and which preserves the natural environment, shall be planned. The project should be implemented keeping in mind the efficient use of the land in the level of the integrated national land in the future and be planned that the central part of the Korean peninsula can play its role and that the great environment which has been well preserved so far will not be damaged. Fourth, the plan for conservation and use, as tourism resources, of the ecologically important region in the border areas surrounding the DMZ shall be developed. The conservation plan and the support system to effectively manage the ecological system should be established by developing a preservation policy for the ecological resources in the border areas and setting the areas as the eco-tour district in order to use the place as tourism resources. Fifth, the awareness that South and North Korea belong to the same nation shall be raised through joint excavation and conservation of historic sites spread around the border region. As the border section is located in the center of the country, it has many historic traces of fierce battles dated back to the era of ancient kingdoms to occupy the

2212 4. Cooperation Zone and Projects Selection for a Peace Belt

region. Therefore, the project of investigating, excavating and preserving the historic sites spread out in the region is a significant issue in terms of recovering the national identity. The restoration of damaged remains should be promoted through the management of historic sites in the border region and the academic investigation of history, in order to raise the awareness as the same people. Sixth, the project should be promoted step by step and institutionally under a comprehensive plan. It is recommended that the project be commenced from a public level, such as the cooperation of the government and international organizations, and be extended to the private sector. A project that benefits North Korea shall be promoted first, and then developed into the one that brings in mutual benefits. Also, it should start from a local, small-scale project and expand it into a large-scale one.

2) Cooperation Zone selection

(1) Selection of the Cooperation Zone

For the six regions proposed, a detailed evaluation was carried out through a field survey and listening to the expert opinions, in the light of conditions of infrastructure, economy, central function for foreign affairs and regional development. For the evaluation based on the condition of infrastructure, the existence of and connection plan for existing railways, passing of highways and state roads, proximity to an international and domestic airport, location of harbor, passing of main rivers and location of an industrial complex were taken into consideration. In this category, the Jangdan district of Paju-si was found to be the best place, followed by the Cheorwon-eup district of Cheorwon-gun and the Hyunnae district of Goseong-gun. For the evaluation of the economic condition, diverse variations including the development potential, center for the living area, marketability, large-scale plains and hills, industrial complex and facilities and conditions of securing labor were considered. As a result, Jangdan and Cheorwon district turned out to be the best places. For the central function for foreign affairs and the social conditions, the main traffic network of South and North Korea, conditions of the military security management, centrality in the unified land, accessibility to existing cities, connection of the southern and northern regions and centrality in the world were assessed, revealing Paju, Cheorwon and Goseong as the best places. The result of this analysis shows that Jangdan of Paju-si, Cheorwon-eup of Cheorwon-gun and Hyunnae district of Goseong-gun have a high development potential for the South and North Korean Cooperation Zone.

1123 〈Figure 3〉Selected Cooperation Zones

Hweyang Pankyo Geumgang North Korea Sepo Goseong

Goseong South Korea Changdo Seoheung Icheon Pyeonggang Kimhwa Cheorwon Goseong Pyeongsan Cheorwon Tosan Yanggu Cheorwon Bongcheon Hwacheon Keumcheon Inje Janpung Yeoncheon Gaesung Pocheon Bacheon Gaepung Paju Dongducheon Chuncheon Panmun Paju Yangju Gapyeong

Ganghwa Uijeongbu Cooperation Zone Demilitarized Zone Goyang Gimpo Namyangju Military Installation Protection Area Guri 0 10 20 30 Kilometers Incheon Seoul Hanam

(2) Establishment of the Cooperation Zone

① Paju district

The Paju district is a part of the South and North Korea border region including the DMZ. As a vast open field in the lower reaches of Imjin River, the western plain of the border region, the Paju district is a place easy to secure land and an important transport point which can connect the South and North as the Gyeongui Railway and the state road No. 1 passes through. In addition, it has a large effect of symbolizing the reconciliation between the two nations since Panmunjeom, the historical site of division, is in this district. Also, as it is equipped with facilities such as buildings used for South-North talks and exchanges, it is possible to build the Cooperation Zone without damaging the environment, by maintaining and expanding those facilities. 2412 4. Cooperation Zone and Projects Selection for a Peace Belt

The Paju district has an advantage in exchanges between South and North Korea and behind support, as existing cities such as cities of the national capital region and Gaeseong-si are nearby. There is also a good possibility that the relevant industrial parks may be built in the border region centering around the Jangdan district, since the establishment of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex has been promoted as a part of the South and North Korea exchanges and cooperation project. Moreover, the district has an advantage in the establishment of a logistics and distribution center which connects the national capital area with Gaeseong and a cultural, historic and educational center for academic and technical exchanges, and in the nurture of relevant industries in connection with the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Also, it can be developed into the special economic district for the western area, in connection with the Gaeseong region.

② Cheorwon district

A part of Cheorwon-eup of Cheorwon-gun, the Cheorwon district is very advantageous as a location for the Cooperation Zone, as it is a vast open field of the Hantan River basin located in the center of the nation, a place easy to secure land. Also, the site for old Cheorwon-eup, ruined by the war, is remained in the district as a potential site to build a city. In addition, the Cheorwon district has a high development potential to be an important transport point of the central inland area, since the state road No. 3 passes through this district, connecting the South and North. The fiercest battlefield of the Korean War, Cheorwon has scars of the war in its border area between South and North Korea, traces of historic sites of Goryeo and Taebong in the DMZ and a potential to be a great location for the exchanges and Cooperation Zone. Therefore, establishing the Cooperation Zone in Cheorwon will have an effect of symbolizing the reconciliation between the two nations and recovery of the national identity. Although the Cheorwon district belongs to Gangwon-do for the administration purpose, geographically it is close to the national capital area, creating good conditions for the exchanges and behind support. In particular, the vast plain which starts from the Pyunggang Plateau and reaches Cheorwon has a favorable condition to develop the region into an agricultural cooperation and logistics center between the South and North. Thus, the district can be developed as an inland logistics and distribution center, a cultural, historic and educational center for academic and technical exchanges and an agricultural development and agricultural technology development center between the nations.

1125 ③ Goseong district

A part of the Hyunnae-myeon of Goseong-gun, the Goseong district has good conditions to establish the Cooperation Zone as it has Mt. Geumgang and Mt. Seorak at its back, abundant tourism resources including lakes, valleys and beaches, and plains developed in regions near the East Coast. If the connection between the northern Dong- hae railway and the state road No. 7 currently under progress is completed, the district has good possibility of developing into an inter-continental strategic transport point which links the Korean peninsula all the way to the Siberian crossing railway in addition to connecting South and North Korea. This region has a good condition to be developed into the exchanges and Cooperation Zone as it is close to the special tour district of Mt. Geumgang and has been already used as a place for talks and reconciliation between the two nations. Therefore, the joint use of South and North Korean tourism resources can be expected in this place through development of Mt. Geumgang and Mt. Seorak, and establishment of a logistics and distribution center for the South and North Korean regions in the East Coast, nurture of the tour district which connects Mt. Geum- gang and Mt. Seorak, and joint research on the ecological system of South and North Korea by using the beautiful and diverse nature can be performed in this region.

3) Cooperation projects selection

(1) Establishment of the selection criteria

For the selection criteria of each project, connection of the existing main traffic network which connect South and North Korea, in case of the traffic network category, and environmental conservation and economic importance, in case of natural disasters and water resources, took precedence over others. In terms of the natural environment, the emphasis was on the protection and use, as tourism resources, of rare ecological resources around the DMZ, while the mutual benefits of the countries and environmental conservation took precedence over others in the industrial cooperation category. In case of the cultural and historic resources, the project was selected with its emphasis on the historic identity of South and North Korea, urgency of restoration and possibility of cooperation.

(2) Selection of the main cooperation projects for each sector

Finally, detailed evaluation criteria were applied to the projects in each sector to select the ones which have good comprehensive evaluation as the promising project. For the 2612 4. Cooperation Zone and Projects Selection for a Peace Belt

traffic network connection project, connection of Gyungui and Donghae railway and roads is already in the final stage, and other projects in the sector have been estimated as having a large economic effect to the both nations. The Imjin River flood damage prevention project was evaluated as the promising project which enables cooperation in the area of the natural disasters prevention and joint use of water resources. As frequent flood has been causing a great damage to properties and human life, South and North Korea together should promote this project very urgently, which has been estimated as having a greater effect than other projects. In the area of the preservation and management of the ecological system, the conservation project of the ecological system in the DMZ and the tree planting project in the Imjin River basin were highly evaluated. In particular, the ecological system conservation projects including designating the DMZ and surrounding areas as the Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserve are projected to have a large effect, as they receive a high interest from the international society. The tree planting project in the mid and upper reaches of the Imjin River basin is what North Korea strongly requests as damage to the mountains and forests of the nation is serious. This project is also estimated as having a large effect since there is a high possibility of cooperation and an effect in the conservation of the ecological system as well as the reduction of the flood damage. In the industrial cooperation sector, South and North Korea will open and jointly operate a pilot farm in the existing farmland of the DMZ and promote a project which fixes poor agricultural manufacturing infrastructure of North Korea. These projects are evaluated as having a high possibility of cooperation and large effects as they can provide direct help for North Korea which urgently needs to solve the problem of food shortage. An investigation for the excavation and restoration of the castle town of Gung-ye, a cultural and historic cooperation project in the DMZ, and other joint investigation projects for historic sites will have a large effect in recovery of the national identity.

1127 〈Table 3〉Details of the Main Cooperation Projects

2812 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

1) Establishment of the promotion stages

The promotion stages were divided into the opening promotion stage, opening expansion stage and opening settlement stage, depending on the level of the opening of North Korea4). The opening promotion stage is the stage in which the communist nation is preparing for opening up, such as the current one where the exchanges and cooperation between South and North Korea are very limited; the outer areas which impose fewer burdens on the system are chosen as the opening regions; and the institutional devices are insufficient. At this stage, tension between the two nations contin- ues, and the exchanges and cooperation in the form of the government support are carried out. Also, the northern and middle of the border region and some coastal areas, which have a fewer effect politically and militarily, will be opened to attract foreign capital and investment; however, the economic reform will be hesitated to keep the stability of the system. In the opening expansion stage, exchanges and cooperation between the South and North will be actively progressed as the socialist state develops the systematic devices for opening up, the opening regions expand to the whole area, and the market economy system is partly introduced for the economic development. At this stage, as economic reform is partially tried and the principles of the market economy are applied to the opening regions, foreign investment will increase and industry transfer between the countries will be actively conducted. The opening settlement stage is the stage where the North becomes stable politically and economically, and the economic exchanges and cooperation are carried out freely. At this stage, economic reform will be conducted overall, and the international competitiveness will be raised. Along with this, the nation’s function as a strongpoint in Northeast Asia economic block will be reinforced, as industries are innovated through relocation and restructure of the South and North Korean industries, and a new national pivot is established which connects the Korean peninsula with the continent.

4) Government of the Republic of Korea (2001).

1129 2) Promotion plans for each stage

(1) Opening promotion stage

As a stage which establishes the conditions for promoting exchanges and cooperation between South and North Korea, the opening promotion stage is the step which con- ceives a plan for the restoration and expansion of traffic network, which have been promoted until now. At the same time, a joint investigation between the two nations for conservation of the ecological system in the DMZ and border regions will be conducted, and works for designation of the Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserve, in which UNESCO is interested, will be promoted. It is the stage where the basic project to prevent disasters such as frequent flood in the Imjin River basin and the tree planting project, to fundamentally prevent the disaster, for the ruined mountains and forests in the mid and upper reaches of the Imjin River will commence, especially with the support of South Korea for saplings and equipment. The main bodies of the cooperation will be the South and North Korean government and international organizations. In the early stage, the project which benefits North Korea will be taken up, while the South and North Korea joint committee will be established and a joint investigation of the Imjin River basin will be conducted in order to implement aforementioned projects efficiently. Through the promotion of fundamental and urgent cooperation projects such as those, the work will be started to make the DMZ into a peace zone.

(2) Opening expansion stage

At this stage, a foundation for enhancing the exchanges and cooperation project furthermore will be built by extending the scope of the exchanges and cooperation and establishing an exchange and Cooperation Zone and a plan for its use by function, in order to make the project into an established practice. In particular, the joint conservation and restoration project for important ecological resources in the DMZ, the joint base survey which was conducted in the opening promotion stage, will be completed, and a plan for the use of those resources will be developed. Furthermore, a plan for industrial cooperation and the joint investigation and conservation of cultural and historic relics will be set to expand the cooperation project into various sectors, and, at the same time, the peace zone will be extended to the Civilian Control Area to raise the peaceful atmosphere in the border region. For the main related projects, reinforcement of the banks to prevent flood in the Imjin River will commence as the cooperation project, along with a pilot farm in the DMZ, starting on a full scale the project of expanding the North Korean agricultural infrastructure. The expansion and maintenance of regions where farming has already 3012 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

〈Figure 4〉Plans for Promoting a Peace Belt

Preparatory Tongcheon Donghae Line Period Pankyo Hweyang Sepo Geumgang Goseong Changdo Singye Seoheung Icheon Pyeonggang Kimhwa Pyeongsan Goseong Insan Gyeongui Line Donghae Line Tosan Cheorwon Sinwon Keumcheon Hwacheon Yanggu Sokcho Bongcheon Janpung Gaesung Haeju Pocheon Bacheon Yeoncheon Inje Cheongdan Gaepung Yangyang Dongducheon Younan Paju Chuncheon Panmun Yangju Gapyeong Uijeongbu Ganghwa Goyang Gimpo Namyangju Guri Joint Water Resources Development Gyeongui Line Peace Belt Incheon Hanam Seoul Biosphere Reserve Area of the Ungjin Demilitarized Zone

Tongcheon

Formation Donghae Line Period Pankyo Hweyang Geumgang Sepo Goseong

Changdo Singye Seoheung Icheon Pyeonggang Kimhwa Pyeongsan Cheorwon Goseong Insan Gyeongui Line Tosan Yanggu Cheorwon Sinwon Bongcheon Janpung Hwacheon Donghae Line Haeju Gaesung Yeoncheon Pocheon Cheongdan Bacheon Inje Gaepung Yangyang Dongducheon Chuncheon Younan Paju Panmun Yangju Gapyeong Uijeongbu Ecological Park Ganghwa Goyang Namyangju Gimpo Cooperation Zone Guri Gyeongui Line Joint Water Resources Development Hanam Peace Belt Incheon Seoul Biosphere Reserve Area of the Ungjin Demilitarized Zone

Completion Pankyo Period Hweyang Mt. Geumgang Line Sepo Goseong Geumgang

Singye Seoheung Icheon Pyeonggang Kimhwa Pyeongsan Cheorwon Goseong Insan Gyeongui Line Tosan Cheorwon Yanggu Sinwon Bongcheon Hwacheon Janpung Yeoncheon Donghae Line Haeju Cheongdan Gaesung Gaepung Pocheon Yangyang Bacheon Inje Younan Dongducheon Panmun Bridge Yangju Chuncheon Bridge Gyeongwon Line Ganghwa Namyangju Guri Historic Cultural Area Cooperation Zone Ecological Park South-North Incheon Joint Agricultural Special Economic Zone Hanam Joint Fishing and Seoul Development Ungjin Joint water Resources Ocean Cooperation Development Peace Belt South-North Biosphere Reserve Area Special Tourism Zone of the Demilitarized Zone

1131 been started and the detailed research on new farms will be conducted for the pilot farm in the DMZ. At the same time, the ecological park will be established and historic and cultural resources will be excavated, in order to make the most of the great natural environment of the DMZ. The both governments, international organizations, public enterprises and NGOs will actively participate in the cooperation.

(3) Opening settlement stage

The main exchanges and cooperation project in the border region will be on the right track, settling the reconciliating and cooperative atmosphere between the two nations. Regionally, establishment of the special economic district in the west coast areas will commence in earnest in order to build a strategic point in economic bloc of the Yellow Sea-rim, and the special tourism district in connection with Mt. Geumgang and Mt. Seorak and the Donghae tourism belt which stretches from Wonsan to Gangneung, will be established, playing a role as a tourism center of Northeast Asia. The international peace complex will be built near Panmunjeom in the western region of the DMZ and, through the complex, the peaceful atmosphere in the border region will be enhanced. Therefore, as the Cooperation Zones are established and the cooperation projects are implemented in the border region, a Peace Belt will be builted due to the expansion of the peaceful place. The South and North Korean government, international organizations and especially public and private enterprises will actively participate in the cooperation, as principle bodies.

3) Promotion plans for each project

(1) Connection of the traffic network

On the 11 a.m. of September 18, 2002, as South and North Korea simultaneously held the groundbreaking ceremony for the connection of Gyeongui and Donghae railways and roads, connection of the traffic network between the South and North commenced for the first time in the half century of separation. It had been approximately 20 years since South Korean government proposed ‘the connection of roads between Seoul and Pyungyang’, as one of the 20 pilot projects, to North Korea, and 2 years since the two nations agreed on ‘the connection of railways and roads between South and North Korea’ in the South and North Korea Summit and the South and North Korea Ministerial Meeting in 2000. According to the ‘joint report of the first South and North Korea national security meeting’ in September 26, 2000, the “two parties allow staff, vehicles and materials 3212 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

to enter the DMZ of each party and ensure their safety for the railway and road construction which connects South and North Korea” (the Article 3), “open the MDL and the DMZ around the railways and roads for the work, and manage the task of establishing the region under the South and North Korean jurisdiction on the basis of the armistice treaty” (the Article 4). On the 11 am of June 14, 2003, the Gyeongui and Donghae Railway connection ceremony was held in the MDL, reconnecting the severed South and North Korean railways in the DMZ, after the half century of separation. The ceremony was organized by South and North Korean officials in the director-level and processed in the order of the reading of messages by the organizers and connecting the 25-meter rails to the South and North of MDL, respectively. The construction for the connection of the two railways, Gyeongui and Donghae, was completed at the end of 2005, and all that is left is the trial runs of the railways in the near future. From now on, in the first stage of the connection of railway, the Gyeongui and Donghae Line connection project, promoted by agreement of South and North Korean government, shall be completed, and in the second stage, the project of connecting main railway networks of the Korean peninsula shall be completed by promoting the connection of the Gyeongwon Line. In the third stage, the Mt. Geumgang tour by rail shall commence by recovering the Mt. Geumgang railway. For the roads, the first stage will see the completion of the state road No. 1 and 7 connection, the second stage will connect the state road No. 3, and the third stage will connect the state road No. 5, 31 and 43, in order to link the traffic network between the divided states. In case of the bridges, in the second stage when the Gaeseong Industri- al Complex will be close to completion, the bridge between Gimpo and Gaepoong (approximately 2km) will be built to transport the materials from the Gaeseong Indus- trial Complex to the Incheon harbor and international airport, reducing the distance and controlling the traffic amount of the northern region of the river. In the third stage, the Gyodongdo of Ganghwa-gun and Yeonbaek of Hwanghaedo (approximately 2.5km) will be connected and linked to the West Coast Highway to extend the traffic network of the west coast.

(2) Prevention of natural disasters and joint use of water resources

① Imjin River flood prevention project

The landform of the mid and upper reaches of the Imjin River basin is a steep mountain, while the lower reaches are flat and have a low altitude, developing villages and farming land. It is reported that the mountains and fields of the Yicheon region near the mainstream of the Imjin River and the Pyeonggang region adjacent to the DMZ 1133 have been severely damaged. As a result, when there is a heavy rain in the mid and upper reaches, the cities and farming land in the lower reaches are often inundated. The Imjin River basin has been damaged from a large flood caused by the heavy rain and typhoons which have continued for several years. In the period of 1994 and 1999, the damage to the property amounted to 940.6 billion won, while the damage to the human life reached 184. In addition, 47,115 people were afflicted by the flood. Paju-si, Dongducheon-si and Yeoncheon-gun, in the lower reaches of the Imjin River, suffered a great deal, and, in particular, regions around the Munsan-eup of Paju-si and Dongducheon-si are the regular victims of a heavy rain. The types of the flood damage are divided into two: the one caused by invasion of the outer water, such as the inundation of the section without a bank and the flooding caused by water which went over a bank and by washing out of a bank, and the other caused by the inner water, such as the poor operation of removing the inner water. The severe flooding damage in the Imjin River basin was caused by natural disasters such as typhoon and heavy rain beyond control; however, the landform, geographical features and high flow rate of the basin and the counterflow of seawater in the lower reaches of the Han River also contributed to the damage. The Imjin River basin is a mountainous and hilly area, and most of its main- streams and branches, except for some downstreams, are swift flowing rivers, which form steep gorges; therefore, the flow rate of the rain in the mid and upper reaches is high (approximately 78%), and the lower reaches are damaged a lot by the swift current and counterflow of seawater. Among the regions which can be promoted for the South and North Korea exchanges and cooperation project, the border region centering around the DMZ and the mid and upper reaches of North Korea have been analyzed as having conditions which can build a dam. Although the mid and upper reaches of the North regions have fewer areas which will be submerged due to the dam construction-the regions have many high mountains and deep canyons but few villages and little farming land, it is difficult to reach an agreement between the South and North since the regions are located in North Korea. However, if the dam is built south of the DMZ, the farming land, ecological resources, and cultural assets will be submerged due to the flooding of broad areas within the border region including the DMZ. The plan for reducing the flood damage is to conduct an overall investigation of the Imjin River basin with its focus on the North Korean region and obtain information in advance by establishing the flood forecast and warning facilities in the mid and upper regions of the river. Furthermore, emergency measures will be developed by reinforcing banks in the main watercourses related to the Imjin River basin, a joint usage plan for small existing dams built in the Northern region will be established, and the river flood prevention project will be promoted5). At the same time, the con- 3412 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

struction of a multi-purpose dam which can permanently prevent disasters in the Imjin River basin and jointly utilize the water resources will be promoted as a South and North Korea exchanges project.

② Joint use of the Imnam Dam and the Dam of Peace

The construction of the Imnam Dam (Mt. Geumgang Dam) of North Korea commenced in October 1986, in order to generate power by changing the valley of the Bukhan River water system into the East Coast. The construction of the main Dam commenced in June 1999, and by October 2000, only 16 months after the commencement, 88m of the large dam (the reserve capacity of 910 million tons) was completed. Since then, 105m has been completed from additional constructions. According to the announcement made by North Korea, the dam will reach 121.5km in height with the total reserve capacity of 2.62 billion tons. However, as the dam construction, which normally takes full 2-3 years, was hastened and the clay was not hardened properly, the safety issue of the dam has been raised. Judging from the announcement made by North Korean media which said “the Anbyun Youth power plant entered the first stage power generation in September 1996, 10 years after the start of its construction, and the construction for the second stage commenced in December the same year, and finished in October 2000”, purpose of the Mt. Geumgang Dam construction project, if the announcement is true, is to generate water power. North Korea dismissed continuous concerns expressed by South Korea on the safety of the dam, claiming that “the dam is a creation which will last for eternity and which was made by our long experience and unique technique, and its safety and solidity are guaranteed”. In the second meeting of the Committee for the Promotion of South and North Korea Economic Cooperation in 2002, the two nations agreed to hold the business con- tact for the joint investigation of the Imnam Dam, and presented plans to jointly manage the water system of Bukhan River, such as the plan for supplying the lower reaches of the Imnam Dam with the water required and the flood prevention measures. In this meeting, both parties agreed on the need and principles of the joint investigation of the Imnam Dam; however, since North Korea requested remunerations for the joint investigation, the parties decided to have further negotiations. In the fifth Committee for the Promotion of South and North Korea Economic Cooperation on May 23, 2003, the North agreed with the South to make necessary notifications related to discharge

5) It has been confirmed that there are four dams constructed in the Imjin river basin in North Korea, and it is estimated that additional dam constructions are planned in the upper river.

1135 of the Imnam Dam in preparation for the rainy season of the year. On the other hand, the South Korean government completed the reinforcement construction of the ‘Dam of Peace’ on July 2002 to prepare for the emergency related to the safety of Imnam Dam and to secure the perpetual safety, and has been promoting the expansion work of the Dam of Peace, which commenced in September 2002, aiming at completing the construction by 2004. The significance of the joint investigation of the Imnam Dam is that South and North Korea decided to solve a sensitive issue such as the safety of the Imnam Dam through negotiations. As the Bukhan River valley, which reaches from the Imnam Dam to the Dam of Peace, has jagged mountains and steep slopes, it can greatly affect the lower reaches in case of a heavy rain or a large scale discharge at the upper reaches. Recently, North Korea blocked the Bukhan River to build and flood the Imnam Dam. The amount of water flowing into the south decreased a lot as approximately 1.8 billion tons of water has been cut off, leaving high possibility of damaging the ecological system and power generating water in the region. In this region, the areas which can be promoted as the South and North Korea cooperation project are the ones which reach the Imnam Dam to the north and the Dam of Peace to the south, mostly the region between the Dam of Peace and the DMZ, and the one between the DMZ and the Imnam Dam. The possible plan for the cooperation project in this area will be to conduct a base investigation by agreement between the two countries to develop a plan for the flooding of the Dam of Peace within an extent that does not bring about much change in the ecological system. Through the flooding of the Dam of Peace, one can develop the inland water transport to the Imnam Dam (Mt. Geumgang Dam), and conceive a plan to use it for the logistics, distribution and Mt. Geumgang tourism water transport. At the same time, other plans can be developed to utilize the Hwacheon Dam in connection with the water transport and to use a certain amount of the stored water of the Imnam Dam for the power generation and water supply to the national capital area, by discharging the water into the Dam of Peace.

(3) Conservation and management of the environment

① Designation of the Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserve

The requirements for the Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserve are (1) to maintain the special continuity and range over two nations or more, (2) to be eligible for the life conservation area, (3) to have economic, touristic, cultural and human exchanges between the bordering nations and (4) to have the mechanism established to develop a joint management plan and control the regional function by nation. 3612 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

There are five places designated as the Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserve, worldwide: Tarta (Poland/Slovakia), Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (DDBR) (Romania/Ukraine), Krkokonose/Karkonosze (Poland/Czech Republic), Vosges du Nord/Pfälzerwald (France/Germany), and East Carpathians (Poland/Slovakia/ Ukraine). The DMZ which lies across the Korean peninsula east to west shows an asym- metrical geographic feature which has a steep slope centering around the Taebak mountain region in the east and a gentle slope in the west. The east and middle areas have great modes of life such as trees as mountains are developed in those areas, while the west areas have abundant ecological resources such as visiting places for migratory birds, swamps, rare freshwater fish and costal tideland. The regions which can be promoted for the reserve are the DMZ (east to west: 248km, north to south: 4km, area: approx. 907km2) and the ecologically rich area in the north of the Civilian Control Line. However, the main parts will be the area comprised of 2km South and North, respectively, from the DMZ. In particular, the DMZ Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR) shall target the South and North Korean regions bio-geographically connected to the DMZ. There are two main ways to designate the TBR. First, the nations in the region promote in partnership with each other a single TBR from the early stage. Second, each relevant nation designates a biosphere reserve and later integrates each area into the TBR. However, it is desirable to promote the designation of TBR in collaboration with each other, in terms of the environmental cooperation in the border region between South and North Korea. The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) also recommends the joint designation promotion among the relevant parties. South and North Korea can agree on the promotion of the DMZ TBR through environmental cooperation, organize the working group, conduct a joint research on the ecological system, develop a plan for the use and management on the basis of the research, and then apply for the designation to the UNESCO MAB. The plan for the designation of the DMZ TBR can be promoted in three stages. In the first stage, the opening promotion period, the South should promote the need and validity of the DMZ TBR by means of indirect environmental cooperation through international organizations or meetings, and strengthen the exchanges and cooperation with the North Korean authorities and scholars. Domestically, a plan shall be conceived to adopt and discuss the issue as the official agenda of the South and North Korea Ministerial Conference. The conditions which can build trust with North Korea and achieve the environmental cooperation shall be established. A plan to induce support and cooperation of the people and the residents of the region shall be conceived and implemented. An organization shall be established within the government for the promotion, and the required legislation shall be prepared. Based on this, 1137 a comprehensive environmental conservation plan for the border region in South Korea shall be established. In the opening expansion period, the second stage, projects feasible to achieve will be promoted first. The legal protection zone for the ecologically rich area will be designated first in the South Korean region, and the environmental cooperation will be promoted while facilitating exchanges and cooperation in the North Korean border region. Furthermore, information on the South and North Korean border areas will be exchanged, and exchanges of the environmental experts will be enhanced. Through negotiations between the South and North Korean authorities, both parties will agree on the joint research on the ecological system of the DMZ and enhance, through the research, the environmental cooperation between the two nations in the border part. In the third stage, the opening settlement period, a joint management plan between South and North Korea shall be established. Prior to applying to the UNESCO for the DMZ TBR designation, we should make the most of international organizations and international and domestic NGOs to increase the possibility of designation, and then make the application.

② Ecological park construction

The border region of South and North Korea has extensive tideland in the DMZ on the lower reaches of Yellow Sea and Han River, visiting places for migratory birds and swamps in the region where Han River and Imjin River join, and rare animals and plants around the visiting places for migratory birds in the plains and high mountains in the east. The regions where the ecological park can be built are, in the west coastal area, the tideland of Ganghwa and Yeonbaek, the migratory birds visiting place in the region where Han River and Imjin River join, the middle region which has the rare freshwater fish species and waterside ecological resources of Imjin River, and the migratory birds visiting place in Cheorwon. In the east, the park can be built in the waterside ecological resources of the Buhan River basin, various ecological resources near the Yanggu coastal valley, and swamps near Gamho in the DMZ. The plan is to build the ecological park focusing on the rare and great ecological resources found out through the joint research between South and North Korea on the main ecological resources of the DMZ, and to manage the park in cooperation of the two nations. The research on the ecological system should follow the following procedures. As the foundation for the establishment of DMZ is not the domestic law of the two nations but International Law, the armistice treaty, the research on the DMZ should be conducted in accordance with the International Law. According to the armistice treaty, access to the DMZ is prohibited to soldiers and civilians of both 3812 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

nations, in principle. The only exceptions are the staff related to the administration of civil affairs and execution of relief projects and the people who have received a special permit of the military armistice commission. The armistice treaty stipulates that responsibility for managing the DMZ lies with the military armistice commission; therefore, to conduct research on the ecological system, a special permit of the commission should be obtained. In the event of organizing the South and North Korean joint research group on the ecological system, the agreement between North Korea and the UN Command is required, based on the agreement between South and North Korea. Besides, even in case of conducting the research on the ecological system of the south of the MDL in the DMZ, we should obtain the consent of North Korea in consultation with them to lead to the agreement between North Korea and the UN Com- mand. It is because we have to conform to the armistice treaty as much as possible not to create opposition from North Korea and provide the cause of the opposition. The problem is that the current military armistice commission has not performed its functions properly, as North Korea has refused to participate in the meeting since March 1991 when the UN Command appointed a South Korean army general as the chief representative of the commission. Therefore, the research on the ecological system of the DMZ can take the following methods. The methods used for restoration of the Gyoungui Line as the precedence, the South and North Korean joint research on the ecology of the entire DMZ should be conducted based on the mutual understanding between the two nations on the research. However, even if North Korea, unwilling to open the DMZ in the North Korean region, does not agree on this method, agreement of North Korea can still be obtained for the research on the ecological system in the South Korean region only. The government shall consult with the UN Command first about the research on the ecological system of DMZ, lead agreement of North Korea by holding a conversation with the North Korean negotiator based on the consultation, and bring in the final agreement on the research at the general-level talk between the UN Command and North Korea. If the UN Command delegates the management rights for the ecological system research to South Korea and North Korea agrees on that, the working level talk for the research can be held. Should the procedure above be implemented, it will be possible to conduct the research on the ecological system of DMZ.

③ Tree planting in the Imjin River basin

The regions around the mid and upper reaches of the Imjin River have steep mountains and were analyzed as containing the mixture of areas which have many trees and which have damaged forests. According to the information analyzed by GIS, among the 5,108km2 area around the Imjin River in North Korea, the 1,079km2 has 1139 many trees while 2,406km2 (47%) has trees only sporadically, requiring the tree planting6). The project can be promoted in the northern riverside region of the mid and upper reaches of the Imjin River and other regions which need tree planting. It should focus on the region the forests of which are severely damaged due to logging and field developing, especially on the 2,406km2 which has a sporadic tree population. Tree planting shall be based on the existing information on the regions around the Imjin River researched before. The plan for phased tree planting shall be established by esti- mating the area requiring planting in the regions confirmed through information analyzed by a satellite, and evaluating the degree of damage and location.

(4) Industrial cooperation

① Agricultural cooperation

Farm development in the Paju region In this region, the Daeseong-dong village (Josan- ri of Paju-si) is located in the south of the MDL of DMZ, and the Gijeong-dong village (Gijeong-ri of Panmun-gun) in the north. The lower reaches of the Imjin River, it is a granary which was used as a farming land before the separation, due to its plains and hills. Even after the armistice treaty, which built the DMZ and restricted the access, certain areas around the DMZ where both villages are located are used as farming land. The Daeseong-dong village (the Village of Freedom) was established in August 1953 to help the settlement of residents who found refuge in the Josan-ri region, the south of the southern limit line (DMZ). There were 160 people from 30 households at that time, the number of which increased to 227 people from 51 households due to the establishment of new families, etc. The southern part of this region is managed by the civil affairs department of the UN military headquarters while the northern part is supervised by the communist headquarters of North Korea and China. The Daeseong- dong village of South Korea, located 500m south from the MDL, is mainly engaged in rice farming in the area of 4.83km2, and so is the Gijeong-dong village of North Korea, located 500m north from the line. The information on the farming area of the Gijeong- dong village has not been calculated in detail, but it is assumed to be the same level as

6) The middle and upper reaches of the Imjin River require forestation since part of the mountains and fields in this area have been significantly degraded due to the farming and fuel wood cutting. North Korea requested 100 million seedlings over a 5-year period at the working-level meeting of the Committee for Flood Disaster Prevention in Imjin River in July 2002.

4012 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

the Daeseong-dong village. For the methods, one shall conduct the overall base research on the region where the two villages are located, organize the land, and maintain farm roads and irrigation facilities. Furthermore, the environmental conditions of the hills and previous farming land nearby which can be cultivated will be investigated to examine the possibility of expansion. Also, one shall select important ecological resources which require conservation to develop a conservation plan, promote a South and North Korea cooperative farm in the cultivable regions, and conceive a plan to manage the rice and special farming by using the technology and capital of South Korea, and human resources of North Korea.

Farm development in the Yeoncheon region Located along the Heongsan-ri of Jung- myeon where the mainstream of the Imjin River flows from north to south, this region has hills and low mountains in the surroundings. In particular, the area adjacent to the northern limit line around the DMZ, where the river flows from north to south, is currently used for farming, while some hills are cleared for cultivation. Despite the sufficient hills and farming land, the South Korean area adjacent to the southern limit line is not currently used for farming, due to the development restrictions as the north of the civilian control line; however, it has good conditions to be developed as farming land due to its geographical features. The farming land developed near the northern limit line can be identified with the naked eye, and other farming land in the North Korean region known to the army amounts to 360,000 Pyeong (approx. 1.19 million m2). The South Korean region is in very good conditions to be cleared into the cultivated field as it has a lot of undeveloped hills and previously cultivated land. Especially in the northern part of the civilian control line, the special-use crops such as beans and sesame and vegetables within a greenhouse are actively cultivated, enabling development in connection with the cultivation and establishing a foundation for the cooperation project. To promote the farm development, one shall fix and expand the joint farm region near the northern limit line in North Korea to jointly cultivate the special use crops by using the capital and technique of South Korea and the labor of North Korea. For the South border region adjacent to the southern limit line, the joint farm will be developed in a large scale to jointly cultivate special crops such as flowering plants which will be exported to the national capital area or overseas. As the Gyungwon Railway and state road No. 3 pass through, this region has good conditions for export- ing the crops through Incheon and Wonsan harbor.

1141 Farm development in the Cheorwon region This region is the northern-facing yard of the DMZ, which runs from the southern limit line of the Woljeong-ri Station, Cheor- won-gun, to the vast Cheorwon Plain stretched to the north. Although the cultivation in the existing farmland discontinued due to the establishment of the DMZ, the land can be recovered if redeveloped. As the section to the southern limit line within the northern part of the civilian control line is cleared for cultivation and accessed for farming, cultivation in the southern area will be possible by connecting with the section. In particular, as the Hantan River runs through, this region has sufficient water resources and is favorable for farming. Currently, it has been observed that grassland and scrubs are making a vast plain in the region, earth and sand have been drawn into due to flood, and water flows in the middle of the plain. The north-facing yard (the Pyunggang Plain), located in the northern part of the southern limit line in the Woljeong-ri Station in Cheorwon-gun, is vast farming land which amounts over 19.83km2, according to a research conducted by Cheorwon-gun. As this region, which can be used for farming, is linked to the Cheorwon Plain and Pyunggang Plateau, it can be developed in connection with those places. Therefore, it is very advantageous for South and North Korea to develop the cooperation project here with the vast farming land. Since cultivation in the existing farming land discontinued for a long time due to the DMZ, allowing for various plants to flourish, the region has developed new ecological environment. Thus, one shall investigate and evaluate the conservational value of the newly developed ecological system and promote the South and North Korea joint development, focusing on the area which can be developed as farmland. Recently, the project of cooperation in the rice farming cultivation technique has been promoted with North Cheorwon-gun as a South and North Korea agricultural exchange and cooperation project in order to improve the productivity. Such project suggests that the cooperation project can be accomplished in this region. Therefore, the South Korean government should start with the cooperation projects which teach agricultural technique and organize farming land for the northern region of the northern limit line, and expand the projects into the region within the DMZ which can be developed as farming land.

Maintenance of the agriculture manufacturing infrastructure Farming has been conducted at the border region, in the Imjin River basin, north to the northern limit line in the DMZ; however, the facilities are old, roads for farming are not maintained well, and the agriculture infrastructure are damaged due to the flood which occurred for several con- secutive years. As these facilities are left unrestored and the farming land is still not organized, the farming productivity drastically decreased, failing to produce crops efficiently. The projects such as organizing the cultivated fields in hills, expanding the irri- 4212 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

gation facilities and maintaining the farmland will be promoted, targeting the farmland in the North Korean border region, the mid and lower reaches of the Imjin River, especially the Jangdan region in the west of the river, reservoir of the Cheorwon Plain in the east, and the Pyunggang Plains and surrounding low areas. The first stage is to conduct base research on the Jangdan region, adjacent to the DMZ in North Korea, organize the farmland and maintain the irrigation facilities. The second stage is to remaintain the farmland by implementing the farmland organization project for the vast Pyunggang Plateau and Cheorwon Plain and, finally, expand the project into the border region. In particular, the land organization and the restoration of the farmland damaged by flood will be done preferentially, followed by the maintenance of irrigation channel around rivers, restoration of reservoirs, weirs, pumping plants and structures for irrigation, and expansion and maintenance of other manufacturing infrastructure for agriculture.

② Cooperation in fisheries

Building of the South and North Korea joint fishery on the East and West Coast The water area which runs from the seashore of Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do, to the 218 miles to the east of Jujin Port, the East Coast area has the red line established from south to north. The West Coast area contains five islands in the Yellow Sea, Beangny- oung, Daecheong, Socheong, Yeonpyeong and Udo, and has the northern line of limit established. As a sea area connected to the coast of Southern Hwanghae-do in North Korea, it has a lot of fishes and, as a blue crab fishery is established, there are frequent conflicts between South and North Korea in a high-demand season. Recently, several hundred fishing boats from China have invaded the northern line of limit, catching fish illegally, but both South and North Korea have not been able to stop the violation. The act has caused a great deal of damage to our fishermen, and cast a gloom over the future of the fishing industry as those fishing boats are taking even fingerlings. There- fore, the cooperation for the joint fishery in the Yellow Sea is a significant issue to solve external problems as well as internal ones. The northern line of limit is a line drawn by the UN military headquarters in August 1953, just after the truce declaration, to indicate the limit to which South and North Korean warships and airplanes can operate on the sea; however, North Korea is still not accepting the line, claiming that the UN Command set it without any prior consultation. There have been many cases where North Korean fishing boats and guarding vessels violated the northern line of limit, the action which our government regards as the attempt of North Korea to nullify the northern line of limit on purpose. In particular, North Korea drew its own maritime MDL one-sidedly, claiming that the north side of the line is their maritime military control zone. This line was drawn 1143 much lower than the northern line of limit southwesterly, incorporating all the five islands in the Yellow Sea, the South Korean territory. To promote the cooperation in fisheries, a plan shall be conceived to conduct a joint fishing between South and North Korea for a certain period of time, by designating the joint fishery zone in the sea area around the northern line of limit. In case of the Donghae region, Jangjin Port of North Korea and Geojin Port of South Korea will be opened to the both sides, while in the west region, Beangnyoung and Yeonpyeong Island Port will be designated as the fishery base for the joint fisheries. The joint fisheries should start from the less sensitive area, Donghae, where the South and North Korea joint investigation is conducted and expand to the Yellow Sea when the exchange and cooperation between the two nations are settled.

③ Cooperation in tourism

Tourism development in connection with Mt. Seorak and Mt. Geumgang Lying across four regions, Goseong-gun, Inje-gun, Sokcho-si and Yangyang-gun, Mt. Seorak of South Korea has sufficient tourism resources such as parks (the national and state parks), waterfalls and valleys, natural lakes, animals and plants and important cultural assets. The Taebaek Range (Average height: 800m), the pivotal range of South Korea, crosses the Yeongdong and Yeongseo district of this region. The west side of the range is the highland with a gentle slope, while the east side has steep hills which gradually descend to the Donghae, forming a fan-shaped field. There are Nature Pro- tection Zones in the Mt. Seorak area such as Mt. Daeam, Mt. Seorak and Hyangrobong Nature Protection Zone. Located in the northern range of Hyangrobong in the mid East Coast area, Mt. Geumgang in North Korea has Geumgang-gun, Goseong-gun and Tongcheon-gun in its territory and reaches approximately 40km wide east to west and 60km wide south to north. The tourism resources of the mountain are the Waegeumgang, Naegeum- gang and Haegeumgang region. The Waegeumgang has various valleys, waterfalls and fantastically-shaped rocks, while Naegeumgang encompasses a Buddhist temple site, which is a cultural asset, forests and Birobong and Yeongrangbong, the highest peaks. Haegeumgang boasts beautiful scenery of its fields, lakes and shores. The plans to promote the cooperation in tourism are to characterize the existing tourism resources of Mt. Seorak and Mt. Geumgang, following the connection of the Donghae railways and roads, and to expand the transport infrastructure such as har- bors and airports and establish conditions for tour by attracting international capital. In addition, the South and North Korea special tourism district will be promoted, which connects the tourism district of Mt. Seorak and Mt. Geumgang.

4412 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

④ Cooperation in the industry

Connection of the industry in Gaeseong and West Coastal area In the South Korean part of this region, Paju, Gimpo and Incheon in the western border region have a high development potential due to the development of various industries. Especially in the region along the Gyeonggi Gulf in the west coast, the industrial park has been established, forming an industrial belt. Due to the huge market of Seoul, concentration of the intellectual and information industry and proximity to the international airport and ports, the region will have a high impact on the relevant industries. The region in North Korea also has a high development potential as a large scale industrial park has been promoted as a South and North cooperation project, since the region around Gaeseong was designated as the Gaeseong special industrial district, and as the west cost industrial belt is formed which connects to Haeju, Sariwon and, furthermore, the Pyungyang region. In particular, Gaeseong has a relative advantage to use the South Korean infrastructure and enhance the economic exchange between the two nations, as it is located half way from the capitals of South and North Korea (140km from Pyungyang and 60km from Seoul). Locationwise, the region can directly connect the Korean peninsula to Europe by using the Chinese intercontinental railway and Siberian railway, and enable transport to the Americas or Asia through trade ports of South Korea. Once establishment of the industrial park, currently hastened to commence, within the Gaeseong special industrial district is completed, the plan for the connection of the Gaeseong and west coast industry will be promoted, which is to exchange the technique of and information on the relevant industries within the border region, and establish a plan to form a link with the regional industries. In particular, relevant environment-friendly industrial parks will be built in the northern Gyeonggi region to protect the environment of the Imjin River, and the cutting-edge industries will be fos- tered in connection with that of the capital area for the cooperation between South and North Korea. Furthermore, the South and North Korea special economic Cooper- ation Zone will be established in connection with the industries in the west coast area, and developed into the international district in liaison with the industrial complex in the economic bloc of the Yellow-sea rim.

1145 (5) Excavation and restoration of the cultural and historic resources

① Excavation and restoration of the castle town of Gung-ye

It was confirmed that the castle town of Gung-ye, located in the DMZ, was established in the field of Pungcheonwon in Hongwon-ri of Cheorwon-eup, Cheorwon-gun (within the DMZ north to Woljeong-ri). Refered to as the castle town of Pungcheon- won, Hongwon-ri, Yujeong-ri, Dongsan-ri and the Junggangri of Uwundong-myoun, located in the plains, are where Gung-ye held its court. The vast South and North Korean Cheorwon Plain stretches around the castle, built with the mixture of earth and stones in a square shape for both inner and outer castle and reached 19.7km in cir- cumference: 7km for the inner, and 12.7km for the outer. The project can be promoted in Pungcheonwon of Cheorwon-gun, where the MDL passes through, in the DMZ. As the castle is located in the middle of the DMZ, it can be promoted through joint research and cooperation between South and North Korea. The plan is to conduct joint research first on the Gung-ye’s castle, which has been confirmed from the historic investigation, and develop and implement the restoration plan based on the research. In the first stage, the restoration will be promoted through the historic investigation and site examination of the area where the inner castle was located, to the north of the DMZ. The preparation, information research, and excavation procedure will be discussed at this stage, including the necessary procedures such as acquiring the access permit from the military armistice commission. In the second stage, the investigation and examination will be made on the outer castle which is located in the center of the South and North DMZ and surrounds the inner castle, conducting the mine removal and technical excavation research. In the third stage, the joint work of restoring the castle will commence, which South and North Korean authorities and international organizations participate in, focusing on the information obtained from the investigation and examination. Should the excavation project be promoted, the transfer of traffic network to the outer region of the castle should also be considered, as the Gyeongwon Railway and state road No. 3 passes through the site.

② Connection of the historic sites and other tourist attractions

Gaeseong historic site The capital of Goryeo Dynasty, Gaeseong was called Songak- gun, Songdo, Gaegyeong, Busogap Dongbihol and Chokmak-gun. The founder of Goryeo moved the capital from Cheorwon to this region, the south of Mt. Songak, in 919, two years after his enthronement. He combined Gaeseong-gun and Songak-gun, and called the region Gaeju. The founder of Chosun, Lee Sung-gye, moved the capital 4612 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

into Hanyang and appointed Yoohoosa, a special administration officer, in Gaeseong. Gaeseong has many historic spots, as it was the capital of the Goryeo Dynasty for 500 years and also has history and tradition as a commercial city for 1000 years, from Goryeo to Chosun. At the bottom of Mt. Janam, there are Gwandukjung, Soongyang private school, Sunjuk Bridge, Tower of Heungguk Temple, Stone Lantern of Gaeguk Temple, Banwol Castle, which was the inner castle of Gaeseong, Southern gate of Gae- seong and Yunboksajung. Under Mt. Songak, there are Manwoldae, which was the site for Goryeo palace, Gaeseong Chumsungdae Observatory, Sungkyunkwan (an academic institution), the site for Balucham Castle and Nasung, the outer castle of Gaeseong. In addition, many tombs of kings, queens and royal family members of Goryeo can be found around 6-8km from the Gaeseong city. Especially in the north of Mt. Songak and the southern hill of Mt. Mansu, the west of Gaeseong, twenty or so graves gathered together.

Ganghwa historic site A time-honored place even mentioned in the Dangun mythology, Ganghwa-gun has many prehistoric remains. It is not only a place where a relic from the bronze age, the Jisuk Tomb, and from the Dangun mythology, Chamsung- dan, were found, but also a place where Goryeo flourished its national culture while resisting the Mongolian forces for 39 years. The region has some of the best of Goryeo culture, including the Tripitaka Koreana consisting of over eighty thousand blocks, Metal Type and Goryeo Porcelain. Ganghwa-gun was also the shelter capital during the Chinese Invasion in 1627 and 1636, serving a role as a natural fortress and the out- post of defending the capital. For the cultural remains, there is Chamsungdan, while for the cultural assets, there are Jundeung Temple, the sanctum of Jeongsu Temple, Bomun Temple, Ganghwa Bell, Bongchundae, Ganghwa Jisuk Tomb, etc. The region also has military remains including the Gapgotdondae, Goryeo Palace site, Ganghwa hill-fort, Gwangsungbo, Dukjinjin and Chojijin

Central region of the national territory Until now, there were no criteria and discussion for the central point of the national territory. The only official points mentioned in the National Geography Institution or various maps are the easternmost, westernmost, southernmost and northernmost point. The scholars had various opinions about the central point. The first one is that the intersection of the extreme points should be the central point. The second is that the central point should be the cross-section. The third opinion is that population, location of the capital, economy, society, culture and geography should all be considered. The fourth is the methods by the degree of curva- ture. Among them, the most dominant one is that the central point should be decided geographically, based on the official document of the National Geography Institute on the coordinates of the national central point.

1147 The central point on the official coordinates is longitude 128。02′02.5″east, lati- tude 38。03′37.5″north, No. 48 San Dochon-ri, Nam-myoun, Yanggu-gun in terms of the administrative district. To measure the central point, the method is selected which sets the point where the easternmost, westernmost, southernmost and northernmost point intersects one another (the center between the end of east and west and the center between the end of south and north) as the criteria for the geographical central point. In terms of the function for the national development, the central point of the national territory is (1) the ‘space of fusion’ which intersects the growth power of North Asia in relation to the symbol of power, (2) the ‘space of grand change’ which symbolizes the decentralization of power and self-reliant localization, and (3) the ‘space of grand integration’ which facilitates the national bond, regional harmony, peace between South and North Korea, international and domestic exchange and the era of environment.

4) Plans for systematic support

(1) Adjustment and establishment of the relevant system

As discussed earlier, building of the Peace Belt in the border region cannot be put into action with the current Border Area Support Act only. In order to implement and extend various exchange and cooperation projects in the border region and achieve the synergy by promoting them in connection with one another, it is necessary for South and North Korea to jointly establish legal and systematic devices. To institutionally support the promotion of cooperation projects in the border region, a special legislation, the ‘South and North Korea Peace Belt Establishment Support Act (tentative)’ should be established. Or, if such special legislation is difficult to establish, the existing Inter-Korea Exchange and Cooperation Act should be revised to establish a basis for the support for cooperation projects in the border region. Along with this, we should revise the Border Area Support Act established lately and, furthermore, improve and complement the Military Installation Protection Act and the Act on the Readjustment of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Also, we should promote the cooperation projects efficiently by diversifying the resources supply and, in particular, establish an institutional device which can raise the national funds and private and overseas capital. North Korea should also revise the relevant system. It has designated the Mt. Geumgang tourism district and Gaeseong industrial district, which the nation currently promotes, as the special district where it has established and operated separate laws. However, the establishment of a special law (the tentative Special Act on the 4812 5. Plans for Building and Institutionally Supporting a Peace Belt

Border Region Exchange and Cooperation) will be required, which can designate and manage the North Korean border region such as the DMZ as the special district, and efficiently support the exchange and cooperation.

(2) Gradual establishment of the systematic basis

In the early stage, the adequate approach to establish the legal system related to the border region Peace Belt, considering the reality of relations between South and North Korea, will be concluding an agreement between the two nations’ authorities for the promotion of small scale, pilot cooperation projects. In order to dispel the concerns of North Korea about the effect of opening up the country and not to provoke the conser- vative forces in North Korea such as the military, the projects should be promoted prudently, step by step. Without question, we should prepare for the subordinate legislation internally to implement the agreement with North Korea. Based on such experiences, the special legislation such as the tentative ‘South and North Korea Peace Belt Establishment Support Act’ and ‘Special Act on the Bor- der Region Exchange and Cooperation’ should be established for South and North Korea to prepare for the comprehensive management and efficient support of the border region on their side. Here, the establishment, support basis and procedure of the exchange and Cooperation Zone and the plan for promoting a large-scale cooperation project should be included.

1149 〈Figure 5〉Major Cooperation Projects on the Peace Belt

North Korea Tongcheon

Hweyang Pankyo Geumgang Sepo Goseong South Korea Mt. Geumgang Line

Singye Changdo Seoheung Icheon Pyeonggang Kimhwa Pyeongsan

Gyeongui Line Goseong Insan Tosan Yanggu Keumcheon Sokcho Sinwon Cheorwon Donghae Line Bongcheon Hwacheon Janpung Cheongdan Gaesung Haeju Yeoncheon

Gaepung Yangyang Pocheon Bacheon Inje Younan Dongducheon Paju

Panmun Yangju Chuncheon Bridge Gapyeong Uijeongbu Gyeongwon Line Bridge Ganghwa Goyang Namyangju Gimpo Guri Historic Cultural Area Cooperation Zone Ecological Park South and North Special Economic Zone Joint Agricultural Development Joint Fishing Area and Ocean Joint Water Resources Cooperation Incheon Hanam Development Peace Belt South and North Korea Biosphere Reserve Area of Seoul Tourism District the Demilitarized Zone

Ungjin 0 10 20 30 40 Kilometers

5012 6. Conclusions

6. Conclusions

Since the historic inter-Korea Summit in 2000, cross-border exchanges between South and North Korea have increased significantly, and the previous citizen-level exchange is developing into the official government level. The spatial expansion in the cooperation and exchange between them is being witnessed in such projects as Mt. Geumgang Tourism Project and Gaesung Industrial Complex Project followed by the transit link in the border region. The purpose of the study is to strengthen the base for the inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation which have gradually progressed since the summit; and to efficiently use the territorial resources on the Korean peninsula based on the cooperation between two Koreas. For this, the study provides concrete suggestions such as cooperative use of resources, environmental conservation, Inter-Korean Cooperation Zone construction and cooperative projects launch in the border region. It will serve as the starting point towards reconciliation and prosperity of the Korean peninsula, as well as implementing the Fourth Comprehensive National Terri- torial Plan, one of whose basic concepts is the actualization of the integrated territory. In particular, a systematic analysis on the potential cooperative use of the resources within the border region will lay the ground for exploring cooperative projects and the following concrete plan for the project initiation. At the same time, the study suggests a long-term plan for the utilization of the border region including the efficient use of the resources within it in the future unified territory. Further, it provides basic directions to a comprehensive exchange and cooperation in the region. The issues to be addressed in the future concerning the construction of the Peace Belt in the border region are most of all, to ease the tension between two Koreas and restore mutual trust. North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved through the con- sensus of the international community. This will transform the current sharp conflict in the region into an opportunity for dialogue and cooperation, thus leading to mutual trust among the international society as well as between two Koreas. The project for the Peace Belt construction in the border region will have to contribute not only to the economy of South and North Korea, but to trust-building and further peaceful reunification of the two countries. For this reason, it is not desirable for the border region remains heavily fortified. The DMZ has to remain a demilitarized neutral zone as it is, and the neighboring areas should be made a pole for trust- building between the two nations. Further, these areas will have to be utilized as a space for peace that will bring peace and reconciliation to the Korean peninsula, and territorial integration ultimately in the near future.

1151 References

Bailey, S. D. 1980. “Non-military areas in U.N. practice”. A.J.I.L., Vol.74 Chan, Roger C. K. 1998. “Cross-border regional development in southern China”. Geo- Journal, Vol.44 No.3, p.225-237 Galtung, J. 1969. “Violence 1969, peace, and peace research”. Journal of Peace Research, No.6 Government of the Republic of Korea. 2001. The Fourth Comprehensive National Ter- ritorial Plan of Korea(2000-2020). Hayes, S. 2001. Implementation of an exchange programme for protected areas in East Asia. IUCN-The World Conservation Union. Kim, Chae-Han. 2000. The Korean DMZ-reverting beyond division. Sowha. Koh, Byung-Chul. 1992. “The inter-Korea agreements of 1972 and 1992 : a comparative assessment”. Korea and World Affairs, Vol.16 Ministry of Unification. 2006. Unification White Paper 2006. Phillips, A. 2001. Trans-boundary protected areas for peace and co-operation. IUCN. Sit, V. 1998. “Hong Kong’s ‘transferred’ industrialization and industrial geography”. Asian Survey, Vol.39 No.9, p.880-900

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