Brunson’s DMZ remarks bring a sovereignty response from Seoul
South Korea’s defence ministry reaffirmed its position on territorial sovereignty after General Xavier Brunson described the country as beginning at the demilitarized zone’s southern fence. Ruling-party lawmakers challenged his wording. United Nations Command said the general was explaining responsibilities under the armistice, as civilian access to the zone remained a point of disagreement.
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Seoul reaffirms sovereignty after the southern-fence remarks
South Korea's defence ministry reaffirmed its position on territorial sovereignty on 18 October after remarks by General Xavier Brunson, commander of US forces in the country. Brunson had told a Washington forum that, from United Nations Command's perspective, South Korea began at the southern fence of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas. The ministry called the remarks his personal views and said cooperation continued on reconciling Seoul's exercise of sovereignty with the command's armistice responsibilities.[1], [2]
Brunson spoke on Wednesday at the Gold Institute for International Strategy, a US think tank. He also heads United Nations Command and the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command. A United Nations Command official said his explanation concerned military and administrative duties within the demilitarized zone and the Joint Security Area under the armistice agreement. The command said South Korea's sovereignty was not in question.[1], [2]
Lawmakers invoke the constitution and demand a retraction
Jin Sung-joon, the ruling Democratic Party lawmaker chairing parliament's National Defense Committee, objected on Friday that the remarks contradicted the constitution. It defines South Korea's territory as the Korean Peninsula and adjacent islands. On Saturday, fellow Democratic Party lawmaker and presidential defence adviser Kim Byung-joo demanded a retraction and apology. Kim argued that authority over access and civil administration did not give United Nations Command the power to decide the territory of a sovereign state.[2]
The buffer zone carries armistice and access responsibilities
The 1953 armistice established a buffer approximately 4 km wide, extending about 2 km on each side of the Military Demarcation Line, the boundary through its centre. Seoul does not exercise control over North Korean territory despite its constitutional definition. South Korean ruling-party lawmakers seek greater authority for civilian visits for nonmilitary purposes. United Nations Command maintains that its existing responsibilities derive from the armistice. Those competing positions over administration and entry underpin the dispute over Brunson's description of the southern fence.[1], [2]
Brunson had described the fences as standing 2.5 km on either side of the line. Korea JoongAng Daily corrected that figure to 2 km. The newspaper placed the line through the centre of the zone, separating its northern and southern sections. The lawmakers' objections focused on the territorial meaning attributed to the southern fence.[2]
