South Korea Requests UNC Consultation to Reopen Three Closed DMZ Peace Trail Sections

Updated 2026-01-22 05:32:32+00:00 (17 articles)

Government Announces Plan to Reopen Closed Trail Segments South Korea's unification ministry announced it will seek United Nations Command (UNC) talks to reopen three DMZ Peace Trail sections — in Paju, Cheorwon and Goseong — that were shut in April 2024 because of heightened security concerns amid rising North Korean tensions [1][2]. Officials say the reopening is slated for within the year and is intended to restore public access and build trust with the North [1][2]. The move aligns with the administration’s broader policy to use the Peace Trail, launched in 2019 with eleven routes, as a confidence‑building tool [2].

UNC Anticipates Objection While Retaining Jurisdiction The UNC has warned that the three walking paths remain restricted under its armistice‑enforcement authority and is expected to object to any unilateral reopening, citing security considerations [1][2]. The ministry counters that the 1953 armistice is a military cease‑fire and does not forbid peaceful civilian use of the DMZ, arguing that the armistice does not prohibit such activities [2]. Negotiations will therefore focus on reconciling security concerns with the government’s trust‑building agenda [1][2].

Minister Chung Dong‑young Conducts UNC‑Escorted DMZ Tour On Jan. 21, Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young visited a designated DMZ Education and Orientation Program site under UNC escort, underscoring ongoing educational and transparency efforts [3]. He also walked the ROK Peace Trail routes south of the Southern Boundary Line, which run from Ganghwa to Goseong, demonstrating continued civilian access under supervision [3]. The visit highlights the ministry’s emphasis on safety, education, and cooperation with the UNC while pursuing trail reopening [3].

Sources (3 articles)

Timeline

Dec 3, 2025 – The United Nations Command declares that the 1953 Korean War armistice “remains the binding framework” for civilian and military access to the DMZ, responding to Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young’s claim that a senior presidential security official was denied entry to White Horse Ridge. The command stresses its review protocols and urges close consultation with Seoul. [17]

Dec 16, 2025 – The UNC issues a rare public statement opposing a South Korean bill that would give Seoul control over non‑military DMZ access, citing Article 1 of the armistice which assigns DMZ administration to the UNC chief and the USFK commander. It warns that the armistice “remains the binding framework” and that entry is limited to civil‑administration or MAC‑authorized personnel. [16]

Dec 17, 2025 – Multiple UNC releases reaffirm its role as DMZ administrator since 1953 and object to the same access‑control bill, emphasizing that the armistice governs all access and that the South Korean military already performs key DMZ tasks. The UNC also grants Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun‑jong DMZ access for a briefing on North Korean activities. [14][15]

Dec 19, 2025 – USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson tells the War on the Rocks podcast that the DMZ “should not be politicized,” asserting that the armistice is the standard governing behavior and warning that changes would “abrogate a legal document.” He adds that the United States will not block Seoul’s conditions‑based handover of wartime operational control before 2030. [13]

Dec 19, 2025 – South Korea’s First Vice‑Foreign Minister Park Yoon‑joo meets China’s Ma Zhaoxu in Beijing, urging China to help restart inter‑Korean talks. Seoul and Washington hold a new comprehensive policy dialogue distinct from the Moon‑era working group, while the UNC again objects to the DMZ access‑control bill and North Korean female workers return from Beijing amid tighter visa controls. [10]

Dec 21, 2025 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young tours a DMZ Education and Orientation Program site under UNC escort, walking the ROK Peace Trail from Ganghwa to Goseong and underscoring ongoing transparency efforts around the border. The UNC notes the program comprises 15 designated sites to promote safety and stability. [3]

Dec 22, 2025 – The Joint Chiefs of Staff issue updated land‑border guidelines that prioritize MDL markers and apply both the South Korean map MDL and the UNC‑drawn line, effectively allowing a line farther south to determine whether a North Korean crossing triggers a response. The rule aims to prevent accidental clashes amid 26 reported incursions since the previous year (17 this year) and acknowledges that only about one‑sixth of the 1,300 MDL markers remain identifiable. [6][7][8][9]

Dec 28, 2025 – The UNC reasserts that the Military Demarcation Line remains under its authority, referencing its depiction in Map Volume I of the 1953 armistice, as Seoul refines border‑rule markers to reduce discrepancies that could shift the de‑facto line southward. Seoul also proposes military talks with Pyongyang to clarify the MDL after a surge in North Korean crossings. [4][5]

Jan 21, 2026 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young visits DMZ sites escorted by UNC personnel, highlighting the education program’s role in maintaining stability and walking the ROK Peace Trail routes south of the Southern Boundary Line. A July 25, 2025 photo shows him at Panmunjom, illustrating continued high‑level engagement. [3]

Jan 22, 2026 – South Korea’s Unification Ministry announces it will consult the United Nations Command to reopen three DMZ Peace Trail sections in Paju, Cheorwon and Goseong that were closed in April 2024 for security reasons. Minister Chung Dong‑young vows to restore full trail access within a year, arguing the armistice does not prohibit peaceful use of the DMZ, while anticipating UNC objections. The DMZ Peace Trail, launched in 2019 with 11 routes, remains a symbol of inter‑Korean confidence‑building. [1][2]