The unification ministry said Thursday pending bills granting the South Korean government control of non-military access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) do not conflict with the armistice as the bills require advance consultation with the United Nations Command (UNC).
The ministry's stance came a day after the UNC voiced strong opposition to the bills, calling them "completely at odds" with the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
"The ongoing parliamentary discussion on DMZ-related bills requires advance consultations with the UNC for approval of DMZ access, and therefore does not conflict with the armistice at all," the unification ministry said in a notice to the press.
The ministry said it will continue to cooperate on the DMZ access bills, in respect of the National Assembly's legislative rights.
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