South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he would seek to resume cooperation with North Korea and restore the Military Agreement on September 19, which was signed at the 2018 inter-Korean Summit, to reduce the escalation of tensions along the border.
Speaking at the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula, Mr. Lee affirmed that re-establishing the agreement is necessary to maintain stability and create a foundation for dialogue. The September 19 agreement once included commitments to suspend military activities in border areas, contributing to limiting the risk of conflict.
However, North Korea has announced the cancellation of the agreement after South Korea partially suspended its commitment amid escalating tensions. Pyongyang also said it would restore all the military measures that were once limited.
Mr. Lee Jae Myung, who won the election in June, clearly stated his stance of wanting to restart inter-Korean dialogue after the period of tense relations between the two sides. He said that restoring the agreement would not only help reduce the risk of unwanted collisions but also pave the way for economic and humanitarian cooperation initiatives.
The re-establishment of the 19.9 Military Agreement is considered an important step to reduce military pressure in the non-military zone (DMZ), while affirming the commitment of the new Seoul administration to long-term peace on the Korean peninsula.
