Seoul, Nov 17 (NationPress) - On Monday, South Korea initiated a proposal for military discussions with North Korea, aiming to clarify the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) to avert potential conflicts along the inter-Korean border.

This initiative comes in light of incidents where North Korean soldiers, some armed, have crossed the MDL on multiple occasions while engaged in activities like land clearing and mine laying in the buffer zone.

It represents the first formal proposal for military talks from Seoul since President Lee Jae Myung assumed office in June, during which he committed to repairing strained relations and fostering dialogue.

"Our military officially proposes inter-Korean dialogues between military officials to establish the Military Demarcation Line, aimed at preventing inadvertent clashes and alleviating military tensions," stated Kim Hong-cheol, deputy minister for national defense policy, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

Kim expressed hope for a quick and positive response from the North, emphasizing that the proposal is intended to lower tensions on the Korean Peninsula and rebuild military trust. He added that Seoul is ready to discuss the specifics of these talks, including their location and schedule.

Since April of last year, North Korea has stationed troops near the MDL within the Demilitarized Zone to conduct activities such as mine planting, erecting anti-tank barriers, and reinforcing barbed wire fences. This buildup follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's description of inter-Korean relations as those of "two states hostile to each other" in late 2023.

Reports indicate that North Korean forces have breached the border approximately ten times this year, including a notable incident in October when two soldiers crossed in pursuit of a defecting comrade.

In retaliation, the South Korean military has issued warning broadcasts when North Korean troops approached the MDL and fired warning shots upon boundary violations.

Kim noted that the violations seem to stem from the loss of indicators marking the land border, originally placed in 1953, shortly after the armistice that concluded the Korean War.

Approximately 1,300 markers, consisting of signs mounted on concrete posts about 1 meter in height, were installed, but only around one-sixth of these are currently discernible.

In conjunction with the military talks proposal, South Korea's military has dismantled border loudspeakers and halted propaganda broadcasts as part of efforts to rebuild inter-Korean trust.

However, it remains uncertain whether the North, which has largely ignored Lee's overtures for dialogue, will respond favorably to this proposal.

In August, North Korea criticized the South for firing warning shots at its soldiers, demanding an end to what it termed "premeditated and deliberate" provocations that could escalate military conflict.

If these talks materialize, it would be the first military dialogue between the two Koreas since general-level talks in 2018. To date, the two nations have engaged in two ministerial-level discussions and 40 working-level meetings since the year 2000.