South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has issued a stark warning, stating that inter-Korean relations have entered a “very dangerous situation” where an accidental clash is possible at any time, according to reporting by Yonhap News.
Speaking to reporters on his return trip from a G20 summit, President Lee stressed that it is crucial for Seoul to engage Pyongyang in dialogue to de-escalate the rising tensions.
Key Deteriorations in Inter-Korean Relations:
Refusal to Communicate: North Korea is currently refusing to answer calls for contact from Seoul, highlighting a complete breakdown in communication channels.
Barbed Wire Fences: Lee noted that Pyongyang is taking the extreme measure of erecting new barbed wire fences along the military border—a construction activity reportedly not seen since the 1950-53 Korean War ended.
Extreme Behavior: The President characterized the atmosphere as “very hostile and confrontational” with an absence of basic trust, leading to “very extreme behaviour” from the North.
Dialogue Proposals Unanswered
Despite the escalation, South Korea continues to seek dialogue. On November 17, Seoul formally proposed military talks with Pyongyang aimed at establishing a clear boundary along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). The goal of this proposal is to prevent armed border clashes that could potentially ignite a broader conflict. North Korea has, however, not yet responded to this offer.
The warning comes as the border has seen more than 10 intrusions by North Korean soldiers this year, some of which required South Korean forces to fire warning shots under established protocol.
Future of US-South Korea Drills
President Lee also touched on the long-term path to peace, suggesting that if a “firm peace regime” is established with North Korea, it would be beneficial for both South Korea and the United States to cease their joint military drills. These exercises have long been condemned by Pyongyang as provocative “dress rehearsals for a nuclear war.” The U.S. currently maintains a substantial presence of approximately 28,500 troops and weapons systems in South Korea.
