South Korea proposes first military talks with North in years

South Korea proposed talks with Pyongyang to avoid border clashes on Monday, the first such offer in seven years as Seoul seeks to ease military tensions with the nuclear-armed North.

Kim Hong-cheol, deputy minister for national defence policy, told a news briefing that military-to-military channels can help avert an escalation. "To prevent accidental clashes and ease military tensions, the military officially proposes that the two sides hold inter-Korean military talks to discuss the establishment of a clear reference line for the MDL," he said, referring to the military demarcation line on the border.