UNC’s historic authority over the buffer zone The United Nations Command has administered the Korean Demilitarized Zone since the 1953 armistice, citing Article 1 of the agreement to control all civil‑administration and relief activities south of the Military Demarcation Line [1][4][5]. The DMZ stretches roughly 250 km long and 4 km wide, a geography the UNC says underpins regional stability [3][4]. Its statements stress that any change to access rules must respect the armistice’s legal framework [2][5].

Seoul’s sovereignty‑driven bill to loosen civilian access The ruling Democratic Party of Korea proposes that the Ministry of Unification issue approvals for non‑military civilian entry into the southern DMZ, while the UNC would retain overall control [1][2]. Lawmakers argue the measure asserts South Korean territorial sovereignty and facilitates peace‑oriented projects [1][4]. The bill follows incidents where high‑profile figures such as Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung‑sik were denied entry, fueling public criticism of UNC restrictions [5].

UNC’s formal objection anchored in armistice provisions In a rare public statement, the UNC declared the bill incompatible with the armistice, emphasizing that only those conducting civil administration or authorized by the Military Armistice Commission may enter [2][4][5]. It warned that unilateral reinterpretation could destabilize the buffer zone and undermine the path toward a permanent peace treaty [1][4]. The command reiterated its commitment to the armistice while acknowledging the South Korean military’s operational role in the zone [5].

U.S. Forces Korea commander cautions against politicizing the DMZ Gen. Xavier Brunson told the War on the Rocks podcast that the armistice must remain the governing standard and that politicizing access could “abrogate a legal document” [3]. He affirmed the United States will not block a conditions‑based handover of wartime operational control if all security, material, and protective criteria are met before President Lee Jae‑Myung’s term ends in 2030 [3]. Brunson also highlighted South Korea’s growing defense industry and its strategic role in the broader Indo‑Pacific security architecture [3].

Parallel diplomatic moves underscore Seoul’s broader peace agenda While the DMZ bill stalls, South Korea has urged China to help restart inter‑Korean talks and held its first comprehensive policy coordination with the United States under the current administrations [2]. Simultaneously, North Korean female workers have been repatriated from Beijing, and an IMO audit of North Korea proceeded in November, reflecting the multifaceted regional environment surrounding the DMZ dispute [2].