South Korea calls for military talks with North Korea

South Korea has proposed holding military talks with North Korea to clarify the border demarcation line, restore military communication channels and prevent accidental clashes, following a recent explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers.

South Korean Vice Defence Minister for Policy Kim Hong-chul said on Friday (October 23) that Seoul had formally proposed the talks, expressing hope that Pyongyang would respond positively.

The discussions could also involve the United Nations Command in a trilateral format, South Korea’s Defence Ministry said. Kim suggested that the two sides could discuss a specific date and venue through Panmunjom, the border village where previous inter-Korean talks have taken place.

The proposal comes after an explosion in the DMZ last month injured three South Korean soldiers. North Korea has denied involvement in the incident and rejected calls to apologise.

The DMZ has separated the two Koreas since the 1953 armistice that halted fighting in the Korean War. The heavily mined buffer zone is designed to prevent direct military confrontation between the two sides.

The proposed talks aim to reduce tensions along the border and restore military communication mechanisms that could help prevent unintended confrontations.

Source: Al Jazeera

-AH