By Lee Min-hyung
South Korea will propose to North Korea that the envisioned inter-Korean military committee be headed by vice minister-level officials from both sides in an effort to prevent possible border conflicts.
In September, the two Koreas agreed to launch a joint military committee to fulfill a series of inter-Korean military agreements signed during a summit in Pyongyang between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Details of the launch of the committee are expected to be discussed during the planned inter-Korean general-level military dialogue on Friday.
According to the defense ministry here, Seoul plans to propose Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk as the head of the committee on its side, and expects the North's Army General So Hong-chan, first vice minister of the regime's People's Armed Forces, to lead the northern side of the committee.
The Ministry of National Defense said details will be refined during the upcoming military dialogue.
On Wednesday, Suh attended a two-day defense forum in Beijing, and discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. In particular, keen attention has been drawn over whether Suh can meet with a North Korean delegation led by another vice defense minister of the regime, Kim Hyong-ryong.
"No schedules have been arranged for the vice ministerial meeting from the two Koreas during the forum, but Suh and his northern counterpart can meet immediately," South Korea's defense ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said.
Suh plans to meet with military delegations from 67 countries, and ask for continued support for the ongoing peace momentum. He is also expected to urge international society to support North Korea's pledge for denuclearization.
Expectations are that the two Koreas can speed up fulfilling their joint military agreement after establishing the inter-Korean military committee.
After Seoul and Pyongyang signed a comprehensive military agreement last month, both sides are increasing their military exchanges. Last week, South and North Korea finished their 20-day-long mine removal activity in the inter-Korea border village of Panmunjeom. The United Nations Command (UNC) also verified the inter-Korean mine removal.
The UNC said it would continue supporting the inter-Korean military tension-easing measures by helping them fulfill other joint military agreements, such as the pullout of troops and firearms from guard posts at the Joint Security Area (JSA).
The inter-Korean military committee, after its establishment, will likely discuss detailed timelines and measures to realize the comprehensive military agreement.
