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UN Command publicly opposes bill to grant South's government control over DMZ access

Published: 17 Dec. 2025, 12:53 Updated: 17 Dec. 2025, 20:56

A transmission tower with no power lines stands abandoned among the overgrowth along the Gyeongui Line road in the demilitarized zone on the western front, as seen from Dora Observatory in Paju, Gyeonggi, on Sept. 3. [YONHAP]

The United Nations Command (UNC) issued a formal statement on Tuesday, opposing a legislative push in Korea’s National Assembly that would grant the Korean government authority over civilian access to the southern half of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) bisecting the Korean Peninsula.

In a rare public announcement, the UNC emphasized that under the Korean War Armistice Agreement, the command retains full authority to regulate access to areas south of the military demarcation line (MDL) within the DMZ.

In its “UNC Statement on UNCMAC [UNC Military Armistice Commission] authorities and procedures,” published on its official website, the UNC cited Article 1, Paragraph 10 of the Armistice Agreement, which states, “Civil administration and relief in that part of the demilitarized zone which is south of the Military Demarcation line shall be the responsibility of the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command.”

The statement also underscores Article 1, Paragraph 9: “No person, military or civilian, shall be permitted to enter the demilitarized zone except persons concerned with the conduct of civil administration and relief and persons specifically authorized to enter by the Military Armistice Commission.”

“UNCMAC carefully reviews and approves or denies access based on established processes that ensure the movement of people within the DMZ is not perceived as provocative or could pose a security risk to personnel and visitors,” the address continues. “We remain committed to maintaining the Armistice and stability on the Korean Peninsula with the optimistic hope that a permanent peace treaty can be achieved.”

The statement is seen as an unusual move by the UNC, as it rarely publicly voices its position on specific domestic legislative initiatives.

This file photo shows the demilitarized zone and the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the complex's namesake North Korean border city, as seen from the border city of Paju in South Korea on Nov. 18. [YONHAP]

The liberal Democratic Party’s Reps. Lee Jae-gang and Han Jeoung-ae recently introduced separate bills that seek to allow the Korean government to access to the DMZ for nonmilitary and peaceful purposes.

Currently, access to the DMZ is exclusively controlled by the UNC under the Armistice Agreement. However, lawmakers — including Lee — argue that this level of restriction is excessive, especially considering the Armistice's preamble states that the agreement is “purely military in character.”

The Ministry of Unification has expressed support for the bill, saying it agrees with the legislative intent. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young pointed to the case of Kim Hyun-jong, the first deputy director of the presidential Office of National Security, who was denied access to the DMZ, and framed the issue as one of national sovereignty.

Despite this, the UNC reiterated its stance during a recent meeting with the head of the Ministry of Government Legislation, stating that DMZ access control falls entirely under its authority, regardless of purpose. Its latest statement reaffirms this position publicly.

"We respect the efforts the UNC has made to maintain peace in the DMZ," said the Unification Ministry on Wednesday in response to the UNC's statement. "As stipulated in the preamble to the Armistice Agreement, the agreement is military in nature and does not prohibit the peaceful use of the DMZ."

"In the absence of a comprehensive domestic law governing the DMZ, three bills aimed at the conservation and peaceful use of the DMZ have been introduced at the National Assembly," said the ministry. "The government plans to pursue consultations with the UNC in cooperation with relevant ministries and to support legislative efforts at the National Assembly."

Update, Dec. 17: Added Unification Ministry's response to UNC's statement.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [[email protected]]