North, South Korea in 'very dangerous' standoff, Yonhap quotes Lee saying

24/11/2025 17:55

North and South Korea are in a "very dangerous situation" where an accidental clash is possible any time and it was crucial for Seoul to engage Pyongyang in dialogue, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Monday, according to Yonhap News.



North Korea is refusing to answer calls by Seoul to establish contact and putting up barbed wire fences along the military border, something that had not been done since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, Lee was quoted as saying.



"Inter-Korean ties have become very hostile and confrontational, and in the absence of even the basic level of trust, the North is showing some very extreme behaviour," Lee said, according to Yonhap.



Lee was speaking to reporters on a flight from South Africa, where he attended a G20 summit, to Turkey for the last leg of his trip.



South Korea proposed military talks with North Korea on November 17 to discuss drawing up a clear boundary along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) to prevent armed clashes along the border which could potentially trigger a wider conflict.



North Korea has not responded or reacted to the proposal.