Unification Ministry says DMZ access bills do not conflict with armistice
Published: 29 Jan. 2026, 12:23
Updated: 29 Jan. 2026, 16:11
![An eagle flies over the border dividing the two Koreas, seen from Paju, Gyeonggi, on Jan. 11. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/01/29/95ccd441-42a4-4045-bb34-38a98a62ef09.jpg)
An eagle flies over the border dividing the two Koreas, seen from Paju, Gyeonggi, on Jan. 11. [YONHAP]
The Ministry of Unification said Thursday that pending bills granting the Korean government control of nonmilitary access to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) do not conflict with the armistice, as the bills require advance consultation with the United Nations Command (UNC).
The ministry's stance came a day after the UNC voiced strong opposition to the bills, calling them "completely at odds" with the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
"The ongoing parliamentary discussion on DMZ-related bills requires advance consultations with the UNC for approval of DMZ access, and therefore does not conflict with the armistice at all," the unification ministry said in a notice to the press.
The ministry said it will continue to cooperate on the DMZ access bills, in respect of the National Assembly's legislative rights.
The ministry has thrown its support behind the bills, proposed by ruling party lawmakers, aiming to give the government the authority to regulate nonmilitary access to the DMZ, as part of efforts to promote the peaceful use of the military buffer zone separating the two Koreas.
The U.S.-led UNC has, however, objected to the bills, stressing its role as the administrator of the DMZ under the armistice agreement.
Earlier in the morning, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young also echoed his support for the bills, saying they "do not conflict with the armistice."
Asked to address growing concerns that differences between his ministry and the UNC could erode Korea-U.S. relations, Chung noted, "That will not be the case."
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)