The Lee Jae Myung administration has officially proposed inter-Korean military talks with North Korea for the first time since taking office. The initiative aims to resolve differing interpretations regarding the establishment of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Previously, when North Korean troops crossed the MDL, South Korean forces responded with warning shots and other measures, which intensified military tensions. Before issuing this proposal, the South Korean government attempted several rounds of communication with North Korea through the United Nations Command (UNC), but Pyongyang did not respond.
MDL markers have deteriorated or become difficult to identify, and North Korea has violated the MDL more than ten times this year.
Kim Hong Cheol, Director of the Defense Ministry’s Policy Office, stated that the military proposed holding inter-Korean military talks to discuss establishing a clearer MDL baseline, aiming to prevent accidental clashes and reduce tensions. He noted that details regarding the meeting could be addressed through the Panmunjom communication channel.
Kim explained that North Korean troops recently built tactical roads and fences within the DMZ and also laid mines, leading to repeated incursions into South Korean territory. He added that continued MDL violations and corresponding responses from South Korea have increased the risk of confrontation.
Following the Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953, the UNC and the South Korean military installed 1,292 markers to delineate the MDL under the supervision of the Military Armistice Commission. The MDL is marked only with these signs, not fences, but many have eroded or disappeared over time. Maintenance stopped in 1973 after North Korean troops fired at UNC personnel repairing the markers.
South Korean forces primarily rely on these MDL markers for boundary identification. When markers are unclear, they consult military maps indicating MDL coordinates. Since 2004, South Korea has worked with the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to align the MDL on maps with actual terrain.
North Korean forces, however, do not use GPS. Most MDL markers, aside from roughly 200 signs in open areas, are located in rugged, forested terrain, making them difficult to identify. As a result, North Korean troops occasionally cross the MDL unintentionally, with roughly ten such incidents occurring this year.
Seoul attempted to communicate with Pyongyang through UNC channels but received no reply. A South Korean Defense Ministry official stated that the government had repeatedly suggested addressing the issue through UNC communication. Still, North Korea never responded, making this the first formal proposal for a meeting.
If the inter-Korean military talks materialize, it will be the first inter-Korean military meeting in nearly seven years, following the 10th general-level meeting held in October 2018. During that meeting, both sides agreed to withdraw 11 guard posts each from the DMZ, and major generals led their respective delegations.
The Defense Ministry reports that since 2000, inter-Korean military engagements have included two defense minister meetings (in 2000 and 2007), ten general-level talks, and 40 working-level meetings.
North Korea, under Kim Jong Un, has deployed troops to the border area since late 2023 while implementing measures based on its so-called hostile two-state stance. South Korean forces issue warning broadcasts when North Korean troops approach the MDL and fire warning shots if they cross the boundary.
South Korea’s proposal aims not only to establish a clear MDL baseline but also to restart inter-Korean dialogue. Since April 2023, North Korea has severed all communication channels, including military hotlines and the inter-Korean liaison office, and has not responded to the Lee administration’s repeated overtures.
The South Korean Ministry of Unification has welcomed this initiative. Following the Defense Ministry’s announcement, the Unification Ministry stated, “Differing interpretations of the MDL have increased military tensions within the DMZ, raising concerns about accidental clashes. Reducing military tensions and preventing incidents is crucial. We hope for a positive response from North Korea.”