The Ministry of National Defense said on the 29th that it respects the United Nations Command (UNC)'s position that the law on the peaceful use of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) (the DMZ Act) conflicts with the armistice agreement.

An eagle flies across North and South over the skies of the Demilitarized Zone as seen from the border area of Paju, Gyeonggi. /Courtesy of News1

Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Jeong Bit-na said at a regular ministry briefing that day, "We respect the authority of the UNC under the armistice agreement and will work closely with the UNC regarding the use of the DMZ." The ministry's remarks are seen as aligning with the UNC's position that it has jurisdiction over the DMZ.

Earlier, the UNC said the previous day that "if the DMZ Act passes, it will directly violate the armistice agreement, and it would be tantamount to the Korean government declaring that the agreement does not apply," adding that the act "denies the United Nations commander's authority to control civilian access."

The DMZ Act stipulates that for nonmilitary activities such as tourism or ecosystem conservation, the Korean government, not the UNC, may grant access to the DMZ, consult with relevant agencies, and coordinate opinions. The Ministry of Unification tied this to an "territorial sovereignty" issue and moved to support the legislation.

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