South Korea's Defense Ministry Proposes Military Talks with North Korea

On October 23, Xinhua News Agency reported from Seoul (Reporter Chen Yi, Ji Xinlong) that Kim Hong-cheol (phonetic), head of the policy office of the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, made a statement on the 23rd, formally proposing to North Korea to hold military talks between South and North Korea to negotiate on mutually confirming the accurate location of the military demarcation line, restoring military communication lines, and preventing accidental conflicts in border areas.

The statement noted that currently, there are still differences in the understanding of some locations of the military demarcation line between the two sides. If special measures are not taken, military personnel from both sides will continue to conduct activities based on their respective recognized locations of the military demarcation line, which could potentially lead to an increase in accidental conflicts.

The statement also mentioned that if necessary, a tripartite meeting could be held, including the "United Nations Command." Specific dates and locations for the talks can be negotiated through the Panmunjom channel. We hope for a positive response from the North.

On September 21, while carrying out a mission in the non-military zone on the South Korean side near the military demarcation line, a landmine explosion occurred in the South Korean Army's 25th Division, injuring three soldiers, two of whom were seriously injured. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the investigation results of the landmine explosion on October 5, stating that "the explosion was caused by anti-personnel mines planted by North Korea south of the military demarcation line," and demanded an apology from the North and immediate removal of the relevant landmines.

On October 6, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement claiming that the recent landmine explosion incident in the Korean Demilitarized Zone was a farce fabricated and imposed by South Korea. The South's attempt to shift responsibility onto North Korea and damage North Korea's national image is an absolutely intolerable major provocation.

On October 22, New York time, the South Korean permanent representative to the United Nations sent a letter to the President of the UN Security Council, requesting North Korea to apologize for the recent landmine explosion incident in the Korean Demilitarized Zone and to take responsible measures.