UN Command Renovates 'Panmunjom Dobodari' Where Inter-Korean Leaders Had a Chat

On the morning of the 1st, when tours of the Panmunjom Joint Security Area (JSA) resumed, tourists on a security tour visited the Dorasan Bridge, where President Moon Jae-in and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un had a friendly walk and conversation during the inter-Korean summit on April 27 last year. The military had temporarily suspended public security tours since October last year to implement demilitarization measures for free movement within the JSA in accordance with the 'September 19 Military Agreement.' / Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Renovation work has begun on the "Dobodari" bridge at Panmunjom. Dobodari became a symbolic location when President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un sat face-to-face and held talks during their first summit on April 27, 2018.

On the 15th, the United Nations Command announced via its Facebook account that "reconstruction of Dobodari has recently started," adding, "Over the coming weeks, Korean contract workers will firmly renovate the 'T-shaped' area to withstand visits from Joint Security Area visitors and endure the test of time and weather."

Dobodari is a small 50-meter-long bridge installed over wetlands between the Military Armistice Commission meeting room at Panmunjom in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, and the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission camp. Originally, it was a straight bridge, but during the 2018 inter-Korean summit, a new section 2 meters wide and 34 meters long was added so that the leaders could sit and talk, forming the current "T" shape.

However, because the newly constructed section was built on wetland soil, ground subsidence occurred ahead of the summit. As a result, visitors to Panmunjom have not been able to access the historic spot where the two leaders had their conversation.

The Ministry of Unification initially aimed to complete the renovation last year, but the schedule was reportedly delayed somewhat due to the possibility of landmine displacement after the monsoon season and administrative procedures.