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1h ago

South Korea Proposes Military Talks With North Korea to Clarify MDL, Avoid Border Clashes

Seoul cites damaged armistice‑era markers as the source of confusion over the border.

FILE - A North Korean military guard post, top, and a South Korean post, bottom, are seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, on June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
FILE - A North Korean military guard post, top, and South Korean army soldiers, bottom, are seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, on Oct. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
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Overview

  • Deputy minister Kim Hong-cheol announced a formal proposal for inter-Korean military talks to set a clearer baseline for the Military Demarcation Line.
  • South Korea says North Korean troops repeatedly crossed south of the line while building roads, laying mines and installing fencing, prompting warnings and warning shots under standard procedures.
  • Officials attribute many incidents to lost or degraded 1953 MDL markers that have produced differing perceptions of the boundary, with only about 200 of 1,292 markers clearly identifiable.
  • The defence ministry reports 10 or more incursions so far in 2025, exceeding the total recorded in 2024.
  • With direct military lines severed, Seoul is sending the proposal via the UN Command and suggests Panmunjom as a possible venue, noting there has been no response from Pyongyang and no general-level talks since 2018.