What does South Korea want to discuss with North Korea in the proposed border military talks?

Seoul proposed jointly verifying the location of the land-based Military Demarcation Line, restoring military communication lines and discussing ways to prevent accidental clashes. Chung said the two Koreas should align their positions on the line through dialogue.

What prompted South Korea to propose military talks with North Korea on the inter-Korean border?

Seoul proposed talks after a land mine exploded inside the DMZ on Sept. 21 and injured three South Korean soldiers. The proposed discussions include measures to prevent accidental clashes along the border.

Unification minister urges N. Korea to join talks on inter-Korean border

Q: What peace measures did Unification Minister Chung Dong-young call for regarding the Korean border?

Chung called for dialogue to align the two Koreas’ positions on the Military Demarcation Line and establish a communication system for peaceful management of the area as soon as possible. He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to replace the current armistice with a peace system.

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Summary

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young urged North Korea on Wednesday to accept South Korea’s proposal for military talks on the inter-Korean border. Seoul proposed the talks Friday after a Sept. 21 land mine blast in the DMZ wounded three South Korean soldiers. The proposed agenda includes jointly verifying the Military Demarcation Line, restoring military communication lines and preventing accidental clashes. Chung said dialogue was needed to manage the area peacefully and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to replace the armistice with a peace system.

Key Facts

Two of the three soldiers injured in the Sept. 21 blast were seriously wounded.
The South Korean proposal was made last week, on Friday.
Chung’s address was read by a senior ministry official at the DMZ Open Eco Peace Forum in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul.
Seoul took down its border loudspeakers a year ago, a step Chung linked to the peace of everyday life.
Chung said confrontation escalates tensions and does not benefit either side.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 28, 2026 3:49 pm KST

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young attends a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Wednesday urged North Korea to accept the South's proposal last week for military talks on the inter-Korean border.

Seoul proposed the talks Friday, after a land mine blast inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on Sept. 21 wounded three South Korean soldiers, two of them seriously. The South wants to jointly verify where the land-based Military Demarcation Line (MDL) separating the two Koreas sits, restore military communication lines and discuss ways to prevent accidental clashes.

"South and North Korea should align their positions on the MDL through dialogue, and establish a communication system for peaceful management of the area as soon as possible," he said in an address read by a senior ministry official at the DMZ Open Eco Peace Forum in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul.

He warned the peace of everyday life, achieved a year ago when Seoul took down its border loudspeakers, is now at risk.

"Confrontation only escalates tensions," he said, adding it "does not do any good for either side."

Chung said he hoped the North would "respond positively" to the proposal. He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to safeguard people's lives and restore lasting peace by replacing the current armistice with a peace system.

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