United Nations Command Speaks Out Against South Korean Legislation to Take Over Authority for DMZ Access
It will be interesting to see how this turns out:
The United Nations Command (UNC) has issued a rare press release stressing its authority over access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
It comes amid growing debate in South Korea over proposed legislation that would allow the Korean government to approve nonmilitary access to the DMZ.
According to the release posted on its website Tuesday, the UNC said that it, through the UNC Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC), has been the successful administrator of the DMZ, a role that has been essential in maintaining stability, especially amid periods of heightened inter-Korean tensions.
The United Nations Command (UNC) has issued a rare press release stressing its authority over access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
It comes amid growing debate in South Korea over proposed legislation that would allow the Korean government to approve nonmilitary access to the DMZ.
According to the release posted on its website Tuesday, the UNC said that it, through the UNC Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC), has been the successful administrator of the DMZ, a role that has been essential in maintaining stability, especially amid periods of heightened inter-Korean tensions.
The ruling party wants to take control of DMZ access from the UNC to basically turn it into a park:
On Aug. 26, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)’s Policy Committee Chair Han Jeong-ae introduced a proposed law titled the “Support for Peaceful Use of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone).” The bill would allow peaceful non-military visits to the DMZ without prior approval from the United Nations Command (UNC). At present, all entry into the DMZ, regardless of purpose, requires UNC authorization. Han argues that this requirement unnecessarily restricts peaceful use and infringes on South Korean sovereignty, particularly because much of the DMZ south of the Military Demarcation Line lies on territory administered by the Republic of Korea. Under the proposal, access would be approved by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, separate from the military provisions of the Armistice Agreement.
You can read more at the link, but it is very irresponsible to have civilians running around the DMZ without approval and tight control of the military. I can understand why the UNC is speaking out against this bad idea.
