This general view shows an explosion as part of the dismantling of a South Korean guard post in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas in Cheorwon on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, as a North Korean guard post sits high in the upper left. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
CHEORWON, South Korea (AP) - South Korea is dismantling frontline guard posts with dynamite and excavators as part of its agreements to lower military tensions with North Korea.
The two Koreas last week completed withdrawing troops and firearms from some of their guard posts along their border before dismantling them. The steps are part of their tension-reduction agreements signed in September.
South Korea's military on Thursday invited journalists to watch the destruction of a guard post with dynamite on the central border town of Cheorwon.
Plumes of thick, black smokes billowed from the site.
The military later allowed the journalists to watch soldiers bulldozing a guard post with construction equipment.
The two Koreas have agreed to dismantle or disarm 11 of their guard posts each by the end of this month.
A South Korean soldier stands guard as construction equipments destroy a guard post in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas in Cheorwon Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. Relations between the Koreas have improved this year, with the North entering disarmament talks with a vague promise to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
This general view shows an explosion as part of the dismantling of a South Korean guard post in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas in Cheorwon on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. Relations between the Koreas have improved this year, with the North entering disarmament talks with a vague promise to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
South Korean soldiers stand guard as construction equipments destroy a guard post in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas in Cheorwon Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. Relations between the Koreas have improved this year, with the North entering disarmament talks with a vague promise to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
Construction equipments destroy a South Korean guard post in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas in Cheorwon Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. Relations between the Koreas have improved this year, with the North entering disarmament talks with a vague promise to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
South Korean soldiers stand guard as construction equipments destroy a guard post in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas in Cheorwon Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018. Relations between the Koreas have improved this year, with the North entering disarmament talks with a vague promise to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)
The Associated Press