North Korea on Thursday blew up a landmine during a mine search operation held at the border Joint Security Area(JSA) aimed at disarming the zone.

In a text message to reporters, South Korea's Defense Ministry said the mine disposal took place at around 11:55 a.m. after North Korea found the landmine on Wednesday and notified Seoul that it will detonate it Thursday morning on the northern side of the JSA.

This is the first time a mine has been removed since the two Koreas launched demining operations in the JSA and the Demilitarized Zone on Monday.