SEOUL, April 9 — A trio of hiking trails is set to open inside the demilitarised zone separating South and North Korea, as part of a larger strategy to turn the area into a peace zone. 

The US$3.9 million (RM15.9 million) project will see the opening of the first of three trails later this month, reports The Korea Times. 

The three trails will open in Paju, Cherowon and Goseong within and along the DMZ, a 4 km-wide buffer zone stretching 250 km along the two Koreas. 

The zone is one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world. 

The Goseong trail is scheduled to open later this month on a trial run. 

The project is spearheaded by the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Council, also known as the unification ministry. 

The Korean Times notes that the opening of hiking trails comes after the two Koreas pulled 11 guard posts each in a gesture of good faith. — AFP-Relaxnews