Seoul requests talks with North Korean military to clarify DMZ border lines



News Seoul requests talks with North Korean military to clarify DMZ border lines ROK defense ministry issues first formal meeting request in years, citing ‘tensions’ along Military Demarcation Line Jeongmin Kim \| Joon Ha Park November 17, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Military personnel from both North and South Korea shake hands while participating in a road connection project near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in Nov. 22, 2018 \| Image: ROK defense ministry South Korea’s defense ministry on Monday formally requested a meeting with its North Korean counterpart to clarify the exact location of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), citing “recent” tensions due to border incursions. The statement marks the first time in seven years that Seoul has asked for an inter-Korean military meeting. It comes over a year after satellite imagery and ROK military reports showed North Korea building anti-tank walls at the land border, as well as after several fatal North Korean incidents during mine removal and installment. “RecentlyNorth Korean troops have repeatedly crossed © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

News

Seoul requests talks with North Korean military to clarify DMZ border lines

ROK defense ministry issues first formal meeting request in years, citing ‘tensions’ along Military Demarcation Line

Jeongmin Kim | Joon Ha Park November 17, 2025

Seoul requests talks with North Korean military to clarify DMZ border lines

Military personnel from both North and South Korea shake hands while participating in a road connection project near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in Nov. 22, 2018 | Image: ROK defense ministry

South Korea’s defense ministry on Monday formally requested a meeting with its North Korean counterpart to clarify the exact location of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), citing “recent” tensions due to border incursions.

The statement marks the first time in seven years that Seoul has asked for an inter-Korean military meeting. It comes over a year after satellite imagery and ROK military reports showed North Korea building anti-tank walls at the land border, as well as after several fatal North Korean incidents during mine removal and installment.

“RecentlyNorth Korean troops have repeatedly crossed

About the Authors

Jeongmin Kim

Jeongmin Kim is Executive Director at Korea Risk Group, based in Seoul. She covers inter-Korean relations and North and South Korean foreign and military affairs. Kim has covered the 2022 ROK presidential election on the ground, and prior to joining NK News, she worked for the CSIS Korea Chair in Washington D.C. and Reuters news agency’s Seoul bureau.

View more articles by Jeongmin Kim EMAIL Twitter Got a news tip?Let us know!

Joon Ha Park

Joon Ha Park is a correspondent at Korea Risk Group. He has previously written on issues related to the two Koreas at The Peninsula Report, and appeared on ABC News Australia, Deutsche Welle and Monocle Radio. He specializes in offering in-depth analyses of South Korea’s defense policy, security relations and domestic politics for Korea Pro.

View more articles by Joon Ha Park EMAIL Twitter Got a news tip?Let us know!