South Korea Proposes Military Talks With North Korea to Avert Accidental Clashes

Overview

• The Defense Ministry announced the proposal on Nov. 17 following recent crossings of the Military Demarcation Line by North Korean personnel.
• Policy director Kim Hong-chul delivered the message and emphasized preventing unintended confrontations along the border.
• Seoul asked to coordinate the talks’ date and venue via Panmunjom, the standard inter-Korean military contact point.
• Officials avoided direct public condemnation of the incursions, citing differing perceptions of the boundary between the two sides.
• North Korea’s response remains uncertain, with Seoul warning that repeated incidents could risk a military clash and calling for an early positive answer.