Civic Group Asks government to Join the Ottawa Agreement

A civic group, Meeting for Making Measures Against Anti-Personnel Mines held a press conference on March 24 and asked the government for joining the Ottawa agreement.
The Ottawa agreement which was made effective from March 1 is the one to ban the use of land mines and to ask for the abolishment of the currently installed mines. Sixty five countries have already signed the agreement.
But Korea has not signed the agreement claiming that if the mines installed in the Demiliterized Zone(DMZ) between the two Koreas
are removed,the national security will be in jeopardy.
The aging mine field it's claimed will hold back North Korea's military forces in the event of a war.
The civic group insisted that those who were damaged by mines installed near the DMZ amount to more than 50 people, different data from the governmental official announcement.
Meanwhile, 50 people including those damaged by mines held a rally for the day and asked for compensation by the government.
Hyeong Ki Kim : myriad@joongang.co.kr