"정부, 북한에 군사회담 제안 검토 중"
Our top story this morning...
The South Korean government is reportedly making preparations to propose military talks to North Korea.
As Pyongyang argues that resolving military confrontations is the first step to improve inter-Korean ties,... there's hope the regime could come to the table.
Kim Hyo-sun reports. South Korea could propose inter-Korean military talks as early as this week,... with the aim of halting mutual hostile actions.
According to government sources on Sunday,... relevant ministries are currently discussing the plan.
This appears to be a follow-up measure to President Moon Jae-in's so-called Berlin Declaration,... in which he said the two Koreas should mutually cease hostile acts across the border,... in line with the 64th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Treaty on July 27th.... that ended the Korean War in 1953.
"If the two Koreas halt all forms of hostile acts that heighten inter-Korean military tensions across the military demarcation line, it will be a meaningful opportunity to ease military tensions."
In a commentary on Saturday,... North Korea's main state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun,... stressed that the first step to improve inter-Korean relations should be resolving the fundamental issue of military confrontation.
Although the details may be different,... such a comment seems to correspond with President Moon's plan to stop hostile acts.
Experts say North Korea could be referring to suspending South Korea's propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts or anti-regime leaflets,... or a halt to Seoul-Washington joint military drills.
South Korea also plans to propose Red Cross talks to Pyongyang to hold reunions of separated families in early October,... marking the Chuseok holiday, or Korean Thanksgiving.
However,... it remains to be seen whether the North will accept the proposal,... as it's demanding South Korea repatriate twelve female North Koreans who defected to the South last year.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.
