Defense Ministry: "Let's Clearly Confirm the Military Demarcation Line"... Reiterates Proposal for Inter-Korean Military Talks

Regarding the mine explosion near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on September 21, the Ministry of National Defense said on October 23, "We formally propose that the North Korean authorities hold inter-Korean military talks to mutually confirm the precise location of the land MDL, restore military communication lines, and discuss ways to prevent accidental clashes in border areas."

Kim Hongcheol Announces Position on DMZ Situation

(SEOUL=Yonhap News) Kim Hongcheol, defense policy chief, announces his position on the situation in the DMZ at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. 2026.10.23

Photo by Seo Daeyeon

dwise@yna.co.kr (End)

Kim Hongcheol, the Ministry of National Defense's defense policy chief, issued a statement addressed to North Korea that day, proposing the talks. "If necessary, trilateral talks that include the United Nations Command are also possible," he said. "Specific dates and locations can be discussed through Panmunjom." He added, "We look forward to a positive response from the North."

This is not the first time the Ministry of National Defense has proposed inter-Korean military talks. It first made the proposal in November last year to address the issue of establishing a baseline for the MDL, but received no meaningful response. The ministry has revived the proposal after the mine explosion heightened military tensions around the MDL.

"On September 21, a mine exploded during a search operation by our forces in the DMZ, injuring our troops," Kim said. "An investigation by our military authorities confirmed that it was linked to mines North Korea had planted south of the MDL." He added, "Given the reality of the military standoff along the inter-Korean MDL, it is difficult to predict what else might happen if this situation is left unaddressed."

"The potential harm would not be limited to either side," he said. "The two sides still have differing perceptions of the location of some sections of the MDL. Without special measures, troops will operate based on the locations each side believes to be correct, increasing the risk of accidental clashes." He also said, "The recent increase in North Korean military activity along the MDL, as well as in our warning broadcasts and warning shots, is also related to this situation."

The government believes that the fundamental cause of the mine explosion is the difference between North and South Korea in how they identify the MDL. When the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953, 1,292 markers were installed along the line shown on military maps. However, many have been lost, and only about 180 are reportedly identifiable today.

The South and North also differ with the United Nations Command. The South Korean military uses the MDL shown on military maps established by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in 2004, while the United Nations Command uses an MDL created by connecting coordinates it generated through its own "MDL Project" in 2016. North Korea is also believed to use an MDL based on its own criteria.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.