The North and South Korean militaries completed withdrawing troops and firearms from 22 front-line guard posts on Saturday as they continue to implement a wide-ranging agreement reached in September to reduce tensions across the world's most fortified border, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said.
South Korea says the military agreement is an important trust-building step that would help stabilize peace and advance reconciliation between the rivals. But critics say the South risks conceding some of its conventional military strength before North Korea takes any meaningful steps on denuclearization — an anxiety that's growing as the larger nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang seemingly drift into a stalemate.
South Korea reportedly has about 60 guard posts — bunker-like concrete structures surrounded with layers of barbed-wire fences and manned by soldiers equipped with machine guns and mortars — stretched across the ironically named Demilitarized Zone.
The 248-kilometer (155-mile) border buffer peppered with millions of land mines has been the site of occasional skirmishes between the two forces since the 1950-53 Korean War. The North is believed to have about 160 guard posts within the DMZ.
In the September military agreement, reached on the sidelines of a summit in Pyongyang between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the Koreas pledged to eventually withdraw all guard posts within the DMZ, but to start by removing 11 from each side as a "preliminary" measure.
The South Korean Defense Ministry official said soldiers on Saturday completed disarming 11 guard posts on the southern side of the DMZ. He said the ministry believes the North has also finished withdrawing personnel and weapons from 11 guard posts on the northern side of the DMZ. He didn't want to be named, citing office rules.
The Koreas plan to destroy 20 of the structures by the end of November, while symbolically leaving one demilitarized guard post on each side. They plan to jointly verify the results in December.
The Koreas also in the September deal agreed to create buffer zones along their land and sea boundaries and a no-fly zone above the border, which took effect on Nov. 1.
The Koreas and the U.S.-led U.N. Command recently finished removing firearms and troops from a jointly controlled area at the border village of Panmunjom and eventually plan to allow tourists to freely move around there. The Koreas have also been clearing mines from front-line areas and plan to start in April their first-ever joint search for remains of soldiers killed during the Korean War.
WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 3, 2025--
WSFS Bank, the primary subsidiary of WSFS Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WSFS), announced today more than 1,600 WSFS Associates volunteered at more than 130 community organizations across the region as part of WSFS’ third annual We Stand for Service Day.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251002990397/en/
Associates volunteered more than 5,500 hours across the bank’s footprint in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey on Wednesday, October 1, during the company-wide day of giving back through volunteerism.
“At WSFS, We Stand for Service Day is a cornerstone of our commitment to the communities we serve. It’s a day where our Associates come together to make a meaningful impact, volunteering at dozens of organizations to support causes close to our hearts,” said Justin Dunn, WSFS Chief Community Impact Officer. “This day embodies our mission to strengthen our communities, and it’s a powerful reminder of the difference we can make when we work together. We’re proud to dedicate this time to giving back and living out our values in action.”
"We could not provide the over 300,000 packages of basic essentials for children without the dedicated and caring volunteers from corporations like WSFS who understand the importance of supporting the communities where they do business," said Michal Smith, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia.
"Volunteers are the heart and soul of our mission to eliminate hunger,” said Cathy Kanefsky, President and CEO of The Food Bank of Delaware. “We are deeply grateful to WSFS for their unwavering support, not just through financial contributions, but through the hands-on dedication of their Associates. Days like We Stand for Service Day are a testament to the power of collective volunteerism, enabling us to distribute millions of pounds across Delaware.”
“WSFS Bank’s Associates are making a major impact as we distribute up to 100,000 children’s books each month,” said Larry Abrams, Founder and Executive Director of BookSmiles. “Volunteers not only keep books out of landfills but open doors to learning and imagination for children and families across New Jersey and Philadelphia."
Photos and additional information from We Stand for Service Day’s events can be found here.
About WSFS Financial Corporation
WSFS Financial Corporation is a multibillion-dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally headquartered bank and wealth management franchise in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region. As of June 30, 2025, WSFS Financial Corporation had $20.8 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $92.4 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 115 offices, 88 of which are banking offices, located in Pennsylvania (58), Delaware (39), New Jersey (14), Florida (2), Nevada (1) and Virginia (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, consumer banking, treasury management, and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Arrow Land Transfer, Bryn Mawr Trust Advisors, LLC, Bryn Mawr Trust ®, The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware, Cash Connect ®, NewLane Finance ®, WSFS Wealth Management, LLC, WSFS Institutional Services ®, and WSFS Mortgage ®. Serving the Greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com.
WSFS Associates volunteer as part of We Stand For Service Day on October 1, 2025.
