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Unification Minister Chung Dong-young visits a closed path part inside the Demilitarized Zone in Goseong and different border amenities, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of Unification
The unification ministry mentioned Thursday it can search consultations with the U.N. Command (UNC) over its transfer to reopen three shuttered path sections inside the inter-Korean buffer zone of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
In 2019, South Korea launched 11 path routes, often known as the DMZ Peace Path, alongside key border cities and cities close to the buffer zone, together with Gimpo, Paju and Yeoncheon, offering a uncommon glimpse into usually inaccessible forest and safety websites to the general public.
Three sectors of the paths within the localities of Paju, Cheorwon and Goseong contained in the DMZ had been, nevertheless, closed to the general public in April 2024 on nationwide safety grounds amid escalated tensions with North Korea.
“The federal government is pushing to revive three sectors of the DMZ Peace Path, that are located inside the DMZ,” a unification ministry official mentioned.
The remarks by the ministry official got here a day after Unification Minister Chung Dong-young visited one of many closed path sections in Goseong, the place he renewed his dedication to reopening the path to the general public.
“I’ll make efforts to have the Peace Path reclaim its full course by reopening the (closed) sections inside the DMZ, consistent with the Lee Jae Myung authorities’s measures to preemptively restore belief (with North Korea),” Chung mentioned throughout the journey.
Reopening the three closed DMZ path sections inside this 12 months was a part of the ministry’s coverage plans reported to Lee final month.
The path restoration plan is, nevertheless, prone to face objections from the U.S-led UNC, which oversees the DMZ because the South-side enforcer of the armistice to the 1950-53 Korean Warfare.
The official mentioned that the unification ministry plans to advance the plan by means of consultations with the UNC, whereas emphasizing that the armistice, which is army in nature, doesn’t limit the peaceable use of the DMZ.
Addressing Chung’s escorted go to to the peace path route Wednesday, the UNC burdened that strolling paths situated contained in the DMZ fall below its jurisdiction.
“Three strolling paths situated contained in the DMZ stay restricted resulting from ongoing safety issues and fall below UNC jurisdiction, and current DMZ entry insurance policies and procedures stay unchanged,” it mentioned.
“For greater than 70 years, the UNC has administered the DMZ below the Armistice Settlement to stop escalation and protect stability on the Korean Peninsula. All entry to the DMZ is reviewed fastidiously, case by case, with security, safety, and Armistice compliance as the highest priorities,” it mentioned.”
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