[Diary Point = Reporter Choi Seung-jin] South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has formally proposed military talks with North Korea to confirm the exact location of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) between the two Koreas and to discuss restoring military hotlines and ways to prevent accidental clashes in border areas.
Kim Hong-cheol, director general of defense policy at the Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement on the 23rd that the two Koreas should hold talks to mutually confirm the precise location of the land Military Demarcation Line. The proposed agenda also includes restoring military communication hotlines and discussing measures to prevent accidental clashes in border regions.
The ministry said it has closely monitored North Korean troops crossing the Military Demarcation Line in recent years while building tactical roads and fences and laying mines near the border. It added that South Korea proposed similar military talks in November last year to resolve differing views on the exact location of the MDL, but North Korea did not respond.
Director General Kim also referred to an incident on September 21, when South Korean soldiers were injured after a landmine exploded during a search operation in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). According to the ministry's investigation, the explosion was linked to a mine North Korea had planted south of the Military Demarcation Line.
The ministry warned that if the two sides continue to hold differing views on the MDL's location, troops on both sides may act based on their own perceived boundaries, raising the risk of accidental clashes. It noted that this situation is not unrelated to the recent increase in North Korean activity near the MDL and the corresponding rise in South Korean warning broadcasts and warning shots.
The ministry said the specific schedule and venue for the talks could be arranged through Panmunjom, and that a three-way meeting including the United Nations Command could also be held if necessary. It added that it hopes for a positive response from North Korea.