Thailand, Cambodia reach consensus on ceasefire details, pledge not to increase forces

Cambodia and Thailand reached a consensus on the details of the ceasefire and signed an agreement at the extraordinary meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

Officials from Cambodia and Thailand attended the meeting, while delegates from China, Malaysia, and the United States participated as third-party observers.

According to a joint statement following the talks hosted at the Malaysian Ministry of Defense, both sides agreed to a ceasefire involving all types of weapons, pledging to avoid unprovoked firing towards each other's positions or troops, and agreed not to increase forces along the border.

Both sides agreed to maintain current troop deployments without further movement as they were at the time when the ceasefire was reached at midnight on July 28. They also committed to ensuring the proper treatment of captured soldiers in accordance with international humanitarian law.

The statement further noted that both sides expressed support for an ASEAN observer team led by Malaysia to monitor compliance with the ceasefire. In the interim, a temporary observation mission consisting of defense attaches from ASEAN countries will be stationed in Cambodia and Thailand.

The statement also said that both sides agreed to maintain regular communication between all army areas and military regions and units, to convene a Regional Border Committee meeting within two weeks, to schedule the next GBC meeting of both countries within one month, and, if necessary, an extraordinary GBC meeting should be called immediately.

Speaking at a briefing after the talks, Cambodian Minister of National Defense Tea Seiha said that Cambodia will fully implement the consensus reached and will continue to maintain close coordination and cooperation, demonstrating Cambodia's constructive approach to regional peace.

For his part, Thai Acting Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit stated that this meeting was crucial to bilateral relations and regional peace and expressed the hope that this meeting will serve as an opportunity to work with Cambodia to promote long-term peace.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin noted that both countries had adhered to the principles upheld within the ASEAN framework.

Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces erupted on July 24 along their border. The two countries agreed to a ceasefire on the afternoon of July 28, which took effect at midnight on the same day.

Thailand, Cambodia reach consensus on ceasefire details, pledge not to increase forces

The Republic of Korea (ROK)'s former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison on arrest obstruction charges.

The criminal division of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of Yoon's obstruction of justice case handed down the prison sentence to Yoon for abusing the presidential security service to hinder the anti-corruption agency from executing its arrest warrant in January 2025.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was once thwarted in its attempt to arrest Yoon as the presidential security service formed human shields and bus blockades to prevent investigators from entering the presidential residence.

The team of Cho Eun-suk, an independent counsel who led investigations into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, demanded a 10-year prison term for Yoon.

The court said Yoon privatized the presidential security service for personal safety and private interests by blocking the law enforcement agencies' lawful execution of an arrest warrant and attempting to destroy evidence, pointing out that despite the very bad nature of his crime, he consistently offered unconvincing excuses and showed no remorse.

The court stressed that severe punishment was necessary, considering the need to restore the rule of law damaged by Yoon's crime, but it noted that the fact that he was a first-time offender with no criminal record was considered a favorable factor.

The sentencing, which was broadcast live, was Yoon's first verdict coming from his botched martial law bid.

The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.

Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of Dec 3 in 2024, but it was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon in April 2025, officially removing him from office.

The ousted leader was indicted while in detention in January 2025 on charges of leading an insurrection, becoming the first sitting ROK president facing such prosecution.

ROK ex-president Yoon sentenced to 5 years in prison on arrest obstruction charges