South Korea is set to significantly narrow a restricted civilian access zone along its heavily fortified border with North Korea, the defence minister announced on Wednesday.

The decision reflects an evolving security environment and seeks to improve convenience for local residents.

The so-called Civilian Control Line currently extends as much as 10km south of the Military Demarcation Line or MDL.

Entry into the sensitive area requires explicit military authorisation.

The defence minister, Ahn Gyu Back, confirmed that the change would see the civilian line shift by an average of 6km closer to the MDL, which was drawn up at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

He emphasised that this adjustment responded to years of persistent resident requests and was now possible due to enhanced defence readiness.

The move is expected to directly affect an estimated 20,000 people who reportedly reside within the existing zone, alongside numerous farmers and workers who are currently required to navigate quite complex authorisation procedures.

The ministry also announced other relaxations, including eased reporting guidelines for operating agricultural drones near the border.

This initiative aligns with a series of measures taken by Lee Jae Myung’s liberal government, which assumed office last year, aimed at reducing tensions with North Korea.

Pyongyang, however, maintains a hostile stance towards its neighbour.