Chung Dong-young: “North Korea should respond to inter-Korean military talks” ... Tensions rise along the Military Demarcation Line after a year

[Financial News] Unification Minister Chung Dong-young urged North Korea to respond to the inter-Korean military talks proposed by the South Korean military.
Minister Chung made the remarks in a welcoming address for the 2026 DMZ OPEN Eco Peace Forum, taking place on the 28th at Sono Calm Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. He had initially been scheduled to attend the event that day, but ultimately did not. Instead, the head of the MOU’s Peace and Exchange Office read the address on his behalf.
In his written welcoming address, Minister Chung said, “Four days ago, the government proposed holding inter-Korean military talks to discuss the mutual confirmation of the Military Demarcation Line, the restoration of military communication lines, and measures to prevent accidental clashes,” adding, “I urge the North to respond positively.”
He said, “Tensions around the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) have risen again recently, creating a grave situation,” and added, “The everyday peace we regained just a year ago through proactive confidence-building measures is under threat.”
Minister Chung stressed that a tit-for-tat confrontation can only heighten tensions and crises between the two Koreas, and that the risk of a clash benefits no one. He also said the two Koreas should bring their positions on the Military Demarcation Line into alignment through goodwill-for-goodwill dialogue and establish a communication system for its peaceful management as soon as possible.
Minister Chung said, “Regardless of whether they were liberal or conservative, successive administrations have consistently worked to make the DMZ a space for peace and life.”
The Roh Tae-woo administration proposed building a peace city in the DMZ, while the Kim Young-sam administration put forward inter-Korean cooperation to preserve the DMZ ecosystem and a plan for a DMZ natural park. The Kim Dae-jung administration proposed designating the DMZ as a UNESCO transboundary biosphere reserve and established an inter-Korean management zone, turning the DMZ into a space for inter-Korean exchanges.
The Roh Moo-hyun administration outlined a plan to create a DMZ Ecological Peace Park and proposed withdrawing guard posts (GPs) and heavy weapons at an inter-Korean summit. The Lee Myung-bak administration envisioned creating a peace industrial complex for inter-Korean economic cooperation, while the Park Geun-hye administration proposed to the international community the creation of a DMZ World Ecological Peace Park.
The Moon Jae-in administration eased military tensions by implementing the September 19 Military Agreement and outlined a plan to turn the DMZ into an international peace zone.
Minister Chung said, “Although many efforts have failed to bear fruit, transforming the DMZ from a space of confrontation and division into one of peace and life remains an important task.”


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