The South Korean side of the Joint Security Area (JSA) opened on Wednesday for the first time in nearly six months, with numerous changes observable resulting from military confidence-building measures agreed between the two Koreas last September.

The temporary closure of the facility, which had only been implemented on the South Korean side of the military demarcation line (MDL), ended Wednesday with a soft-opening that revealed a number of changes to assembled visitors and journalists.

“I think that what you’ll feel here in Panmunjom is a different vibe,” said Lt. Col. Sean Morrow, commander