Dec. 17 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's Unification Ministry said Wednesday that the Korean War Armistice Agreement is "military in nature" and does not prohibit the peaceful use of the Demilitarized Zone, pushing back against a U.N. Command statement opposing pending National Assembly legislation on the DMZ.
In a ministry statement responding to the U.N. Command's position on the authority and procedures of the U.N. Command Military Armistice Commission, the ministry said it respects the UNC's efforts to maintain peace in the DMZ but argued the armistice's scope is limited.
"As stipulated in its preamble, the Armistice Agreement is an agreement of a military nature and does not prohibit the peaceful use of the DMZ," the ministry said.
The ministry cited language in the armistice preamble stating that the intent of the conditions and regulations is "purely military in nature" and applies only to the belligerents in Korea. The ministry's position indicates it interprets that clause as leaving room for non-military, peaceful activities in the DMZ.
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