Overview
- United Nations Command issued a rare public statement citing Armistice provisions that give the UNCMAC authority to manage the DMZ and approve or deny all entry.
- Democratic Party lawmakers introduced the Act on the Peaceful Use of the DMZ to let the government authorize non-military, civilian access notwithstanding the Armistice.
- South Korea’s Unification Ministry supports the legislation on sovereignty grounds and said it will seek consultations with the UNC, while the defense and foreign ministries have reservations.
- After recent denials cited by Seoul, the UNC granted Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-jong access for a briefing on North Korean military activity, accompanied by U.S. Eighth Army Commander Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilbert.
- UNC says access requests are reviewed case by case under procedures meant to avoid provocation and ensure safety, with investigations of alleged Armistice breaches observed by the Neutral Nations Supervisory Committee.