Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young delivers a congratulatory speech at the 'Special Forum for Elders on Inter-Korean Relations, Six Months into Government Inauguration' hosted by the Korean Peninsula Peace Forum at the Press Center in Seoul on the 3rd. Yonhap News

Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young revealed a critical view of the United Nations Command's (UNC) practice of exercising authority over access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), disclosing the recent denial of entry for Kim Hyun-chong, the Senior Secretary to the President for National Security First Deputy Director, to the DMZ.

In his congratulatory remarks at a legislative public hearing on the bill concerning the peaceful use and support of the DMZ held at the National Assembly that day, Minister Jeong mentioned, "Not long ago, the Senior Secretary to the President for National Security First Deputy Director was denied permission to visit the site of remains recovery at Baengma Ridge."

The Ministry of National Defense conducted the recovery of remains of fallen soldiers from the Korean War at Baengma Ridge within the central front-line DMZ for about 40 days from October 15 to November 28.

The specific circumstances or reasons for the UNC's denial of entry to the DMZ for Deputy Director Kim Hyun-chong are not known. However, the UNC's denial of access to the DMZ for government officials, especially those from the military, appears somewhat unusual.

Minister Jeong also stated, "Several years ago, a sitting Minister of Unification was denied access to Daeseong-dong village," adding, "The government's concern is that such actions cannot be overlooked."

This is reportedly referring to the incident in 2019 when Kim Yeon-chul, the then Minister of Unification, attempted to visit Daeseong-dong village, a village within the DMZ, with a group of reporters. However, the UNC denied access to the reporters, which subsequently led to the cancellation of the Minister's visit as well.

Minister Jeong pointed out, "Seeing this reality where access to areas where we should rightfully exercise our territorial sovereignty is controlled, I believe it is a disgrace for a sovereign nation."

He further stated, "There are so many non-military projects, related to ecology, environment, culture, and history, that we can and should undertake," and expressed his earnest hope that "the bill will be introduced and processed within this year without fail."

Legislative public hearing on the bill concerning the peaceful use and support of the DMZ attended by Minister Jeong Dong-young. Provided by the Ministry of Unification

Currently, the UNC requires permission for all access to the DMZ, regardless of purpose, based on its jurisdiction under the Armistice Agreement.

However, the South Korean government, including the Ministry of Unification, and some civilian sectors have argued that the UNC's exercise of authority over non-military access to the DMZ lacks sufficient legal basis. The preamble of the Armistice Agreement explicitly states that the agreement is "of a purely military character."

Voices have also been raised within the political sphere to ease access regulations for non-military purposes to the DMZ.

Lawmakers such as Han Jung-ae of the Democratic Party of Korea have proposed bills that include provisions for special cases allowing access to the DMZ for peaceful use, subject to the permission of the Minister of Unification.

The Presidential Office remained reticent regarding the reasons for the denial of DMZ access to Deputy Director Kim Hyun-chong, stating that "confirmation of the details is restricted."

When asked about the reasons for the denial of entry, the UNC avoided specific comments and stated in principle that "The UNC, as the body with the authority to enforce the Armistice Agreement, reviews all access requests in accordance with established procedures to ensure safety, compliance, and regional stability."

It further clarified that "The Armistice Agreement is a binding framework that governs civilian and military access to the areas under the jurisdiction of the Armistice Agreement, including the DMZ," emphasizing that non-military or civilian access also falls under the UNC's jurisdiction.

The UNC added, "We encourage close consultation with the government of the Republic of Korea on all measures affecting these areas and will continue peace-building efforts to support common security objectives."

Yonhap News