SEOUL, South Korea – The North Korean and South Korean armies decided Friday to completely destroy 22 front-line guard posts by the end of November, as they discussed their upcoming Steps in the implementation of a vast military agreement signed last month to reduce tensions.

They also agreed to conduct a joint study early next month on a 43-kilometer long waterway near the western border, where civil vessels from both countries will eventually be allowed to pass freely, a statement released on Monday said. the outcome of general level discussions at border village of Panmunjom.

Plans to remove guard posts and joint use of the Han River Estuary were among the commitments set out in the military agreement reached last month on the sidelines of a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Friday's talks took place one day after the end of the removal of guns and troops from a jointly controlled area in the border village by Korea and the US command. The Koreas have also cleared mines on the front lines and plan to launch their first joint search for remains of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War in April.

South Korea confirmed Thursday that its soldiers had discovered the war in a different front zone.

According to the statement made by the South Korean Ministry of Defense, South Korea agreed to proceed with the withdrawal of personnel, firearms and equipment and the destruction of the 11 guard posts on each side by the end of November. They plan to jointly verify the results in December.

In the September agreement, the Koreas committed to removing all guard posts in the heavily armed demilitarized zone that separated them.

Korea has not established Friday schedule for the establishment of a joint military committee to maintain communication and avoid crises and accidental clashes, but agreed that it should be established "as soon as possible".

The Koreas also agreed last month to create buffer zones along their land and sea borders, as well as a no-fly zone over the border.

Moon described the military agreement as an important step in creating a climate of trust that will reduce border tensions and create more space for broader negotiations led by the United States on North Korea nuclear-free.

Some experts say that South Korea risks conceding to its conventional military forces before North Korea takes concrete steps to give up its nuclear weapons.

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