Seoul: The commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) stated that the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) should not be "politicized," expressing opposition to a South Korean bill that aims to grant the government control over non-military access to the buffer zone.
According to Yonhap News Agency, USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson, who also leads the U.N. Command (UNC), made these remarks following a recent UNC statement against the proposed bill. He emphasized that the armistice agreement, which concluded the 1950-53 Korean War, should be the guiding principle for conduct in the region. Under this armistice, the UNC currently holds the authority to approve or deny access to the DMZ.
Brunson articulated his concerns during an episode of the security-focused podcast series "War on the Rocks," stating, "What we want to try to make sure that we do is, number one, we don't allow that area to become politicized ... we signed an agreement to say that we will maintain this buffer here."
He referenced South Korea's recent proposal for military talks with North Korea aimed at clarifying the Military Demarcation Line in the DMZ to prevent potential clashes near the inter-Korean border. Brunson stressed that all actions should adhere to the armistice agreement.
Brunson further emphasized, "What governs our behavior is the armistice, and we've got to adhere to the standards put forward in the armistice. And as long as we do that, there won't be any challenges." He warned against any attempts to alter existing practices contrary to the legal framework of the armistice.
The USFK commander's appeal to uphold the armistice agreement came shortly after the UNC released a rare statement highlighting its role as the "administrator" of the DMZ. This zone, spanning approximately 250 kilometers in length and 4 km in width, has acted as a buffer between the two Koreas since the Korean War ended.
Discussing Seoul's strategy to pursue a conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control from Washington within President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term, ending in 2030, Brunson assured that the U.S. does not intend to "hold this up at all." However, he insisted that the bilaterally agreed-upon conditions must be satisfied for the transfer to proceed.
"We've got to make sure that we've met all those conditions whether they be operational, whether they be material based, whether it might be something as simple as protection that those things are all in place before we go and do this," Brunson stated.
In this context, Brunson praised South Korea's defense industry's growth and its participation in multinational exercises like Talisman Sabre, conducted in Australia, which have bolstered its capabilities and influence within the broader Indo-Pacific region. He encouraged South Korea to "pull away from the Peninsula and become more engaged."
Brunson remarked on the critical role of South Korea, referring to it by its formal name, the Republic of Korea, saying, "I've talked a lot about the centrality and importance of the Republic of Korea to the entirety of the Indo-Pacific by virtue of their economy, by virtue of the size of their military, by virtue of their ability to continue to develop technologies."
"They are just preeminently important to peace in the Indo-Pacific."