UNC Issues Fact Sheet Stating North Korea's Activities Do Not Violate Armistice, Directly Contradicting South Korea's Stance

The United Nations Command (UNC) issued a fact sheet on Wednesday, explaining in detail its position that North Korea's recent work to turn the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) into a border does not violate the Armistice Agreement.

This virtually directly refutes the South Korean Ministry of National Defense's stance that the North Korean military's installation of fences close to the MDL is a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement.

The UNC posted an article on its website on Wednesday titled "UNC Fact Sheet: Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Armistice Agreement Implementation and Recent North Korean Activities," presenting its official assessment and the grounds for it regarding North Korea's recent activities in the DMZ area.

The UNC emphasized, "We maintain the position that North Korea's recent construction activities, including fence installation and road repairs, do not constitute a violation of the 1953 Armistice Agreement as long as they are carried out north of the MDL and do not involve the introduction of heavy weapons."

Specifically, regarding North Korea's fence installation and road repairs, the UNC judged that they are not a violation of the Armistice Agreement, stating, "They are permitted if they are carried out north of the MDL. Fences are facilities for defense and separation purposes."

It also stated that landmine laying is not a violation of the Armistice Agreement, saying, "Laying landmines in the northern region for defensive purposes is permitted."

The UNC specified that in most areas, the North Korean military's construction activities are taking place up to 100 meters away from the MDL established under the 1953 Armistice Agreement, and there is no evidence of MDL intrusion, nor is there evidence from monitoring that North Korea has brought heavy weapons or drones into the DMZ.

As well, it emphasized that South Korea is currently carrying out "more than 36 projects related to roads, fences, and vegetation clearing" in the southern DMZ, which is also not a violation of the Armistice Agreement, stating, "The UNC applies the same standards to both North and South Korea."

Listing the DMZ activities of both Koreas side-by-side is interpreted as implying that South Korea is also conducting similar activities, and therefore North Korea cannot be singled out.

The UNC also disclosed details of its communication with the North, stating, "In recent operations, the North Korean military has utilized established communication mechanisms with the UNC to prevent miscalculations."

Specifically, the North notified the UNC of its intention to cut off roads and railways connecting to the South in October 2024, and its intention to begin fence construction and road repairs in the summer of last year.

It also stated that the UNC actively delivered warnings regarding North Korea's work close to the MDL, prompting the North Korean military to adjust its posture and retreat to the north to prevent accidental border crossings.

In addition, it specified, "The UNC treats all allegations of MDL violations seriously and investigates them in cooperation with the South Korean Army's Ground Operations Command."

This implies that investigations are underway regarding the possibility of the North Korean military crossing the MDL during their work, misidentifying the boundary, or laying landmines south of the MDL.

Following leader Kim Jong-un's declaration of inter-Korean relations as "two hostile states" and his order to "fortify" the border, North Korea has been clearing land, building tactical roads, and installing barbed wire and landmines in areas north of the MDL since April 2024.

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has defined North Korea's border-fortification work, particularly the installation of fences as close as 80 to 90 meters to the MDL, as a "clear violation" of the Armistice Agreement clause that establishes the DMZ as a buffer zone.

The South Korean government is known to have conveyed its view on multiple occasions that the UNC should play a role, such as conducting on-site inspections, as North Korea's border-fortification work could effectively neutralize the buffer zone and militarize the DMZ.

However, as the UNC directly expressed a contrary opinion through the fact sheet on Wednesday, the difference in views is expected to persist.

It is unusual for the UNC to quickly issue a fact sheet and explain its position on an issue where it disagrees with the South Korean government.

However, the UNC has previously issued fact sheets to explain its position, such as during the controversy over the delayed shipment of Tamiflu to North Korea.
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.