South Korean military updates guidelines for inter-Korean land border

The South Korean military has revised its guidelines for defining the inter-Korean land border to avoid accidental clashes with North Korean soldiers. This decision follows multiple instances of North Korean troops crossing the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) since last year. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) has instructed troops to prioritize markers indicating the MDL and to consider both the MDL on the South Korean military map and a line connecting MDL markers set by the United Nations Command (UNC). This adjustment allows the military to assess border crossings by North Korean troops using a line drawn further southward. Even if North Korean soldiers cross the line connecting MDL indicators, the South Korean military may not respond if it does not align with its own military map. The guidelines, shared with front-line units in June last year and officially included in operational guidelines in September this year, aim to ensure a firm response by troops and prevent accidental clashes. The South Korean defence ministry plans to address inconsistencies in MDL coordinates used by the two sides with the UNC next year. Seoul has also proposed military talks with Pyongyang to clarify the MDL, but North Korea has not responded to the proposal. Since April last year, North Korean troops have violated the land border 26 times, with 17 incidents reported this year alone. The South Korean military has issued warning messages about 2,400 times and fired warning shots 36 times in response to these violations, leading to North Korean soldiers retreating in all cases.