South Korea’s newly elected liberal president outlined his plans on Friday to restart certain military activities along the border with North Korea and recommit to a 2018 military agreement with their northern neighbor, aiming to lower tensions at the border.

During a speech marking the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, President Lee Jae Myung announced his intent to reinstate the September 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement. This agreement, a tension-reduction initiative, was originally made between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s former liberal President Moon Jae-in.

“Everyone knows that the long-drawn-out hostility benefits people in neither of the two Koreas,” Lee said during his speech.

Lee called on the North to respond to Seoul’s efforts to rebuild trust and revive dialogue. (AP)

“I hope that North Korea will reciprocate our efforts to restore trust and revive dialogue,” he added.

Last June, then-President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol declared a full suspension of this military agreement after incidents where North Korea launched numerous trash-filled balloons across the border. North Korea had officially withdrawn from the agreement in November 2023.