Latest news with #September19MilitaryAgreement
The Sun
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
South Korea to halt border military activities amid North Korea tensions
SEOUL: South Korea will suspend certain military activities along its border with North Korea, President Lee Jae Myung announced on Friday. The move is part of efforts to improve relations between the two nations, which remain technically at war. Speaking on the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese rule, Lee pledged to reinstate the 2018 September 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement. The pact, designed to reduce tensions, had previously halted military exercises near the border before breaking down amid rising hostilities. The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, leaving the peninsula divided. 'Everyone knows that the long drawn-out hostility benefits people in neither of the two Koreas,' Lee said during his speech in Seoul. His administration has already taken steps to lower tensions, including stopping anti-North Korea propaganda broadcasts and preventing activists from sending leaflets via balloons. 'We will take proactive, gradual steps to restore the September 19 Military Agreement,' Lee added, without specifying a timeline. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol had suspended the pact in June 2024 after North Korea sent trash-filled balloons across the border. The agreement had included measures like halting live-fire drills, removing guard posts, and maintaining communication hotlines. Lee expressed hope that North Korea would reciprocate the gesture. 'I hope that North Korea will reciprocate our efforts to restore trust and revive dialogue,' he said. Analysts remain sceptical about Pyongyang's response. Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute predicted North Korea would likely ignore or criticise the move. Yeom Don-jay, a former intelligence official, suggested stronger incentives, such as sanctions relief, might be needed to engage Kim Jong Un. Meanwhile, Lee also addressed South Korea's strained ties with Japan, advocating for a 'forward-looking' approach. Relations have long been affected by historical disputes stemming from Japan's colonial rule over Korea. Lee is set to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on August 23, as both nations navigate U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump. Despite past criticism of Seoul's outreach to Tokyo, Lee has recently emphasised strengthening bilateral ties. The upcoming summit with Trump later this month could influence North Korea's stance, according to observers. - Reuters
RTHK
4 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Seoul woos Pyongyang in bid to ease tensions
Seoul woos Pyongyang in bid to ease tensions In his speech, Lee Jae-myung said "long drawn-out hostility benefits people in neither of the two Koreas". Photo: Reuters South Korea will end some military activities along its border with North Korea, President Lee Jae-myung said on Friday, in his government's latest effort to improve ties between the neighbouring countries still technically at war. In a speech to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee said he would restore the so-called September 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement. The pact was signed at an inter-Korean summit in 2018 and designed to de-escalate tension along the border. Pyongyang later tore up the agreement and said it would restore all military measures after Seoul suspended parts of the agreement amid a spike in tensions. Lee, who won a snap election in June, has sought to re-engage Pyongyang after a period of cross-border tension and shown a willingness to return to dialogue. "Everyone knows that the long drawn-out hostility benefits people in neither of the two Koreas," Lee said during his speech in Seoul. Lee said South Korea had no intention of absorbing North Korea for unification and respected Pyongyang's current system. He cited his government's efforts to lower tensions, including halting the launch of balloons floated by activists with anti-North Korea leaflets and dismantling loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts across the heavily-militarised border. "In particular, to prevent accidental clashes between South and North Korea and to build military trust, we will take proactive, gradual steps to restore the September 19 Military Agreement," Lee said. In June 2024, then South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol declared a complete suspension of the military pact in response to North Korea's move to send hundreds of rubbish-stuffed balloons across the border. "I hope that North Korea will reciprocate our efforts to restore trust and revive dialogue," Lee said. Earlier this month, South Korea and the United States announced a delay in parts of their annual joint military exercises that have been a source of tension with North Korea. Top North Korean officials have, however, in recent weeks dismissed moves taken by Lee's new liberal government aimed at easing tension between the two Koreas. Lee would keep seeking to peacefully denuclearise North Korea through cooperation with the international community and dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington, he said. (Reuters)
AsiaOne
5 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
South Korea's Lee to restore pact halting military activity on North Korean border, Asia News
SEOUL — South Korea will seek to resume inter-Korean co-operation and intends to restore an agreement to suspend military activity along the border with North Korea, President Lee Jae-myung said on Friday (Aug 15). In a speech to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee said he will seek to restore the so-called September 19 Military Agreement, which was signed at an inter-Korean summit in 2018 and was designed to de-escalate tension along their shared border. Pyongyang later effectively tore up the agreement and said it would restore all military measures after Seoul suspended parts of the agreement amid a spike in tensions. President Lee, who won a snap election in June, has sought to re-engage Pyongyang after a period of cross-border tension and shown a willingness to return to dialogue. [[nid:721334]]
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
South Korea's Lee to restore pact halting military activity on North Korean border
FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a press conference to mark his first 30 days in office at Yeongbingwan of Blue House on July 3, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. Kim Min-Hee/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea will seek to resume inter-Korean cooperation and intends to restore an agreement to suspend military activity along the border with North Korea, President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday. In a speech to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee said he will seek to restore the so-called September 19 Military Agreement, which was signed at an inter-Korean summit in 2018 and was designed to de-escalate tension along their shared border. Pyongyang later effectively tore up the agreement and said it would restore all military measures after Seoul suspended parts of the agreement amid a spike in tensions. President Lee, who won a snap election in June, has sought to re-engage Pyongyang after a period of cross-border tension and shown a willingness to return to dialogue. (Reporting by Heejin KimEditing by Ed Davies)
