Key gov't-led DMZ projects remain stalled as UNC denies clearance over safety risks

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- Several government-led environmental and historical initiatives inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) have been stalled for over two years as the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) continues to withhold clearance, citing safety risks, Seoul officials said Tuesday.

South Korea launched a series of DMZ initiatives in 2020, ranging from ecological and forestry studies to the recovery of lost villages and exploring potential UNESCO World Heritage candidate sites, to implement a 2018 inter-Korean summit agreement to transform the tense border area into a peace zone.

The projects had proceeded throughout the years, except for the winter seasons, and continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the projects were suspended in May 2024 after the UNC, which holds authority over DMZ entry control under the Armistice Agreement -- a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War -- refused to give clearance, citing changes to the security situation along the heavily fortified border.

Tensions had flared up between the two Koreas at the time, triggered by South Korea-based civic groups' sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border into the North, with Pyongyang flying trash-carrying balloons in response.

This Sept. 29, 2026, file photo shows an inter-Korean border area in Paju, just north of Seoul. (Yonhap)

Since the liberal administration of President Lee Jae Myung took office in June last year, South Korea has sought to resume the DMZ projects as recently as in May, but the UNC has still denied access, on grounds that the 2018 military tension-reduction pact between Seoul and Pyongyang has been invalidated, Seoul officials said.

Civilian DMZ tour programs across three border regions also remain blocked since May 2024 due to a lack of UNC entry approval, they said.

Seoul officials said the UNC has also claimed jurisdiction over part of a history museum near the Inter-Korean Transit Office in Paju, north of Seoul, citing its recent border remeasurements that show a larger portion of the facility lies north of the Southern Limit Line, the southern boundary of the DMZ.

In response to a query by Yonhap News Agency regarding the projects, the UNC underscored potential risk factors that need to be carefully taken into account for DMZ access.

"The potential value of a proposed research activity must be weighed against the risks to personnel who would enter the DMZ," it said in a statement. "UNC reviews each request for access under established procedures and the Korean Armistice Agreement, in close coordination with the ROK government."

ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Regarding the history museum site, the UNC said it has proposed designating the facility as a site under the DMZ Education and Orientation Program, a UNC-led program run in coordination with Seoul.

"Because some doors open into the DMZ, appropriate safety measures and access procedures, including coordination with the ROK military, must be in place before visitors can be accommodated," it said.

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

S. Korea has right to peaceful use of DMZ: minister

(3rd LD) N. Korea appears 'flustered' by S. Korea's DMZ blast findings, mine-clearing: defense minister

(LEAD) (Yonhap Interview) UNC deputy chief cautions against changes to 'proven framework' over DMZ control

Defense ministry says it's in consultations with UNC over 'effective' management of DMZ

Key gov't-led DMZ projects remain stalled as UNC denies clearance over safety risks

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，10 月 20 日（韩联社）——首尔官员周二表示，由于以美国为首的联合国军司令部以安全风险为由继续拒绝批准，非军事区 (DMZ) 内几项由政府主导的环境和历史倡议已经停滞了两年多。

2020年，韩国启动了一系列非军事区倡议，涵盖生态和林业研究、失落村庄的恢复以及探索潜在的联合国教科文组织世界遗产候选地等，旨在落实2018年朝韩首脑会谈协议，将紧张的边境地区转变为和平区。

除了冬季以外，这些项目多年来一直在进行，甚至在 COVID-19 大流行期间也继续进行。

然而，由于联合国军根据停战协定（1950-53 年朝鲜战争的遗留产物）对非军事区入口控制拥有管辖权，并以戒备森严的边境沿线安全形势发生变化为由，拒绝批准这些项目，因此这些项目在 2024 年 5 月被暂停。

当时，由于韩国民间团体向朝鲜散发反平壤传单，导致朝韩关系紧张，平壤方面则放飞垃圾气球予以回应。

这张摄于2026年9月29日的资料照片显示的是位于首尔以北坡州的朝韩边境地区。（韩联社）

据首尔官员称，自李在明总统的自由派政府去年6月上任以来，韩国一直试图恢复非军事区项目，最近一次是在5月份，但联合国军仍然拒绝其进入，理由是首尔和平壤之间2018年签署的缓和军事紧张局势条约已经失效。

他们表示，由于缺乏北卡罗来纳大学的入境批准，自 2024 年 5 月以来，跨越三个边境地区的平民非军事区旅游项目仍然处于停滞状态。

首尔官员表示，联合国军还声称对首尔以北坡州韩朝过境办公室附近的一座历史博物馆的部分区域拥有管辖权，理由是其最近重新测量边界，结果显示该设施的较大一部分位于南部界限线（即非军事区的南部边界）以北。

针对韩联社就这些项目提出的询问，北卡罗来纳大学强调了进入非军事区需要仔细考虑的潜在风险因素。

声明中指出：“拟议研究活动的潜在价值必须与进入非军事区的人员所面临的风险进行权衡。北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校将根据既定程序和《朝鲜停战协定》，与韩国政府密切协调，审查每一项准入申请。”

ROK是韩国正式名称“大韩民国”（Republic of Korea）的缩写。

关于历史博物馆所在地，北卡罗来纳大学表示，已提议将该设施指定为非军事区教育和指导计划的基地，该计划是由北卡罗来纳大学牵头，与首尔市政府协调开展的项目。

“由于有些门通向非军事区，因此在接待访客之前，必须采取适当的安全措施和准入程序，包括与韩国军方协调，”声明中写道。

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

韩国有权和平利用非军事区：部长

（第三条）朝鲜国防部长：韩国非军事区爆炸发现及排雷行动令朝鲜“慌乱不堪”

（导语）（韩联社采访）联合国大会副主席警告不要改变“行之有效的非军事区控制框架”。

国防部表示，正与联合民族大会党就非军事区的“有效”管理进行磋商。

由于联合民族大会党以安全风险为由拒绝批准，政府主导的关键非军事区项目仍然停滞不前。