Cheong Wa Dae: "North Korea's MDL Fences Violate Armistice Agreement... Not Recognized as Border"

"North Korean Facilities Along the MDL Are Not a Border"
"North Korea Unlikely to Respond Positively to Military Talks"
"No Particular Signs of a North Korea-U.S. Summit"
"Not Considering Proposal for a Declaration Ending the Korean War"

Cheong Wa Dae said on the 30th that facilities, including fences installed by North Korea along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), violate the Armistice Agreement and that it does not recognize them as a border. It said there have been no particular signs of a possible North Korea-U.S. summit so far, but that it is keeping the door open to dialogue and preparing to coordinate with the United States.

The Phoenix flag flies at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 29, the day President Lee Jaemyung commuted to work there, officially marking the return of the Cheong Wa Dae era after 3 years and 7 months. 2025.12.29 Photo by Cho Yongjun

A senior Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters that day, regarding North Korea's installation of fences along the MDL, "If things continue as they are, there will likely be multiple versions of the MDL, and in reality, a fence line will exist." The official added, "That violates the Armistice Agreement. We do not view it as a border, nor do we recognize it as one."

The official said the fences installed by North Korea should not be viewed as "the MDL line," describing them as "facilities that North Korea is installing in violation of the Armistice Agreement at its own discretion."

"What is clear is that we are not recognizing them as a border," the official said. "There is a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, and the MDL is within it. The MDL is not a border."

The official forecast that North Korea was unlikely to respond positively to military talks aimed at resolving the MDL issue between the two Koreas. "We do not expect North Korea to readily accept an offer of dialogue," the official said. "We proposed talks as a measure we needed to take, and North Korea rejected them. The Ministry of National Defense has now proposed talks again, and we are waiting."

"Because various MDL lines are mixed together, I believe it is necessary to establish a consistent, unified position," the official said, adding, "The outlook is not very good." On how to respond going forward, the official added, "We need to consider how to deal with this. We will assess the situation and make a judgment."

Meanwhile, Cheong Wa Dae said there have been no concrete signs so far of a possible North Korea-U.S. summit.

"Under the Trump Administration, many unfolding developments are fluid and difficult to predict, so no one can say for certain what will happen," the official said. The official added, "Based on what we have learned so far, there are no particular signs," but said, "The possibility cannot be ruled out, so we are keeping various possibilities in mind."

The official stressed that, if North Korea-U.S. dialogue takes place, it will be important to establish a close consultation framework between South Korea and the United States so that South Korea can serve as a "pacemaker." "If we enter such a situation, we will need to communicate, coordinate, and consult with the United States," the official said. "In doing so, we should reflect our position and play a role in ensuring that the situation develops favorably."

The official added, "If such circumstances arise, we will not participate in the talks themselves; the United States will take part, and we will play the role of pacemaker." The official stressed, "We are paying close attention to the need for a consultation mechanism that will enable us to perform that role effectively."

The official dismissed speculation that the government was preparing to propose a declaration ending the Korean War in connection with a North Korea-U.S. summit. "The prospects for North Korea-U.S. talks are highly opaque and uncertain," the official said. "With no indication of whether such talks will take place, or any related signs, the government has not yet considered making such a proposal."

"Individuals may develop ideas on their own, but this is not something we are considering or preparing," the official said, adding that it was also difficult at this stage to determine whether a declaration ending the Korean War could actually become an outcome of North Korea-U.S. dialogue.

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