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South Korea Seeks UNC Talks to Reopen DMZ Peace Trails Amid Tensions

South Korea's unification ministry announced it will seek consultations with the UN Command to reopen three closed sections of the DMZ Peace Trail inside the Demilitarized Zone. The trails, initially opened in 2019, were closed in April 2024 on national security grounds amid heightened tensions with North Korea. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has renewed his commitment to reopening the trails as part of the government's measures to restore trust with the North. However, the UNC maintains jurisdiction over the DMZ and stresses that access is restricted due to security considerations and the Armistice Agreement.

Key Points: S. Korea to Consult UNC on Reopening DMZ Border Trails

  • Plan to reopen 3 DMZ trail sections
  • Requires UNC consultation due to jurisdiction
  • Part of trust-building with North Korea
  • UNC cites security for restrictions
3 min read

South Korea says to seek consultation with UNC over push to reopen border trails inside DMZ

South Korea's unification ministry pushes to reopen three closed DMZ Peace Trail sections, requiring consultation with the UN Command over jurisdiction.

"I will make efforts to have the Peace Trail reclaim its full course - Unification Minister Chung Dong-young"

Seoul, Jan 22

South Korea's unification ministry said Thursday it will seek consultations with the UN Command over its move to reopen three shuttered trail sections within the inter-Korean buffer zone of the Demilitarised Zone.

In 2019, South Korea launched 11 trail routes, known as the DMZ Peace Trail, along key border cities and towns near the buffer zone, including Gimpo, Paju and Yeoncheon, providing a rare glimpse into generally inaccessible forest and security sites to the public.

Three sectors of the trails in the localities of Paju, Cheorwon and Goseong inside the DMZ were, however, closed to the public in April 2024 on national security grounds amid escalated tensions with North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"The government is pushing to restore three sectors of the DMZ Peace Trail, which are situated within the DMZ," a unification ministry official said.

The remarks by the ministry official came a day after Unification Minister Chung Dong-young visited one of the closed trail sections in Goseong, where he renewed his commitment to reopening the trail to the public.

"I will make efforts to have the Peace Trail reclaim its full course by reopening the (closed) sections within the DMZ, in line with the Lee Jae Myung government's measures to preemptively restore trust (with North Korea)," Chung said during the trip.

Reopening the three closed DMZ trail sections within this year was part of the ministry's policy plans reported to Lee last month.

The trail restoration plan is, however, likely to face objections from the U.S-led UNC, which oversees the DMZ as the South-side enforcer of the armistice to the 1950-53 Korean War.

The official said that the unification ministry plans to advance the plan through consultations with the UNC, while emphasizing that the armistice, which is military in nature, does not restrict the peaceful use of the DMZ.

Addressing Chung's escorted visit to the peace trail route Wednesday, the UNC stressed that walking paths located inside the DMZ fall under its jurisdiction.

"Three walking paths located inside the DMZ remain restricted due to ongoing security considerations and fall under UNC jurisdiction, and existing DMZ access policies and procedures remain unchanged," it said.

"For more than 70 years, the UNC has administered the DMZ under the Armistice Agreement to prevent escalation and preserve stability on the Korean Peninsula. All access to the DMZ is reviewed carefully, case by case, with safety, security, and Armistice compliance as the top priorities," it said."

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who loves hiking, the idea of a 'Peace Trail' in the DMZ is fascinating! It could be a powerful symbol. But the logistics and safety concerns are massive. Hope they find a balanced solution with the UN Command. 🤞
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Priya S
Trust-building measures are good, but they shouldn't compromise security. The minister says the armistice doesn't restrict peaceful use, but the UNC is right to be the final authority on access. This needs careful diplomacy, not unilateral decisions.
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Vikram M
Reopening trails inside a live border zone? Sounds risky. We have our own sensitive borders. While promoting peace is noble, you can't ignore ground realities. The UNC's 70-year record of maintaining stability speaks for itself. South Korea should listen.
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Rohit P
It's a classic dilemma between openness and security. Maybe they can start with heavily supervised, limited access? The phrase "case by case" from the UNC gives some hope. Small steps are better than no steps at all for peace.
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Michael C
Respectfully, I think the South Korean government is being a bit naive here. The DMZ isn't a national park; it's one of the most militarized borders on Earth. The UNC's jurisdiction exists for a reason. Pushing this plan too hard could backfire.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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