Kim Hong-cheol, South Korea’s Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy (Photo: Reuters)

North Korean soldiers have crossed the MDL, albeit temporarily, on several occasions while working near the border. Kim Hong-cheol, South Korea’s Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy, said the proposal calls for a discussion to establish a clearer MDL to prevent accidental clashes and ease tensions. He said he anticipates a positive and swift response to the proposal, adding that Seoul is ready to discuss a venue and schedule for the talks.

South Korea’s military has removed border loudspeakers and suspended airing propaganda broadcasts in an effort to restore trust, but it remains to be seen whether the North will respond to the proposal. If talks are held, they will be the first inter-Korean military talks since 2018.

Officially, the Korean War has never ended. Although the Korean Armistice Agreement brought an end to hostilities on July 27, 1953, that ceasefire never gave way to a peace treaty. The MDL is at the center of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a buffer zone 250 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide between North and South Korea.

The UN Command said it remains committed to supporting efforts that uphold the principles of the Armistice and reduce the risk of escalation.