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South Korea on Monday proposed the first inter-Korean military talks since 2018, seeking to prevent accidental clashes along the border amid repeated incursions by North Korean troops.
Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Kim Hong-cheol said Seoul is urging Pyongyang to hold talks along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
“Our military officially proposes that the two sides hold inter-Korean military talks to discuss the establishment of a clear reference line for the MDL,” Kim said.
He added that communication between military authorities is needed “to prevent accidental clashes and ease military tensions.”
South Korea also expressed hope for a “positive and swift response” from Pyongyang and said it is open to negotiating the time and venue of the meeting.
Kim cited an uptick in North Korean border violations this year, including troops crossing the MDL while installing tactical roads, fences, and land mines.
South Korean forces fired warning shots and broadcast messages urging the soldiers to retreat.
Seoul’s Defense Ministry said the North has violated the border around 10 times in 2024. Officials believe the incidents stem from the loss of many MDL markers installed after the 1953 Armistice Agreement.
A ministry official said attempts to repair the markers have stalled for decades, noting that maintenance work stopped in 1973 after North Korean forces opened fire during UN Command efforts.
The proposal follows President Lee Jae Myung’s broader offer for talks with no preconditions, reversing the hardline stance of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol.
Since taking office in June, Lee has removed border loudspeakers and banned anti-Pyongyang leaflet launches.
Inter-Korean relations hit one of their lowest points in years in 2024, with both sides engaging in a tit-for-tat propaganda war involving trash-filled balloons.
Yoon was impeached in December over a martial law declaration, leading to a snap election that brought Lee to power.
North Korea has not yet responded to Seoul's latest offer.
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