Seoul: South Korea on Monday proposed military talks with North Korea along the Military Demarcation Line to prevent future clashes near the border, marking Seoul's first formal overture to Pyongyang since President Lee Jae Myung took office in June.

According to Anadolu Agency, Kim Hong-cheol, deputy minister for national defense policy, stated in a statement that the military is suggesting inter-Korean talks between military authorities to discuss establishing the Military Demarcation Line to prevent accidental clashes and ease military tensions.

Kim expressed anticipation for a positive and swift response from the North to the proposal, which aims at reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and restoring military trust. He mentioned that Seoul is open to negotiating details such as the venue and schedule for the talks.

The proposal comes amid a rise in border incidents, with reports indicating that North Korean troops have crossed the line 10 times this year. Kim noted that these violations appear to stem from missing border markers, which were initially installed in 1953, a month after the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War.