Seoul: South Korea has proposed to the United States a plan to jointly manage parts of the southern half of the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea, as reported by local media. This move is part of South Korea's efforts to gain control over civilian access to the 250-kilometer-long, 4-kilometer-wide DMZ.

According to Anadolu Agency, the proposal was made by South Korea's Defense Ministry. Currently, the US-led UN Command is responsible for administering the military buffer zone, acting as the south-side enforcer of the armistice that concluded the 1950-53 Korean War. The proposal comes after the UN Command raised objections to Seoul's initial move for control, prompting the Defense Ministry to suggest a compromise where South Korea's military would manage entry to areas south of the barbed-wire fence within the DMZ.

The issue has gained traction following statements from Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who has shown support for pending legislation aimed at granting the South Korean government authority over nonmilitary access to the DMZ. Chung has also committed to restoring three sections of the DMZ Peace Trail, aligning with President Lee Jae Myung's broader initiative to rebuild trust between North and South Korea.

Despite these developments, the UN Command has expressed strong opposition to the proposed legislation, arguing that it contradicts the armistice agreement. A UN Command official emphasized last month that if the legislation is passed, it could be interpreted as the Republic of Korea withdrawing from the armistice, thereby no longer being bound by it.