South Korea and the United States discussed possible adjustments to the management of sections of the heavily fortified border with North Korea during recent defence talks in Washington, Seoul’s defence ministry said on Thursday.
Talks Report “Progress” but Deny Joint Control
A ministry spokesperson said the issue was raised at a bilateral integrated defence consultative meeting and described the discussions as having made “progress.” However, she denied reports suggesting that the talks could lead to joint or split control of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
“It is not joint management. Nor is it divided management,” the spokesperson told a briefing. “It (is) making DMZ management in some sections more realistic.”
Regional Security Shifts
These discussions are part of regular alliance consultations aimed at improving communication channels, reducing operational friction, and ensuring better coordination in sensitive border areas.
The DMZ marks a buffer zone along the line where the 1950-53 Korean War – when China and North Korea battled U.N. forces led by the United States – ended with an armistice, not a treaty.
The United Nations Command oversees the DMZ under the armistice agreement, and the defence ministry spokesperson said Seoul respected its authority while consulting with Washington on technical arrangements for some areas.
The comments come as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has said his country would seek to reclaim wartime operational control from the U.S. during his term, which runs through to 2030.
The U.S. currently would command allied troops in the event of war on the Korean peninsula, but successive South Korean governments have sought to regain wartime operational control.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry has also recently shifted language on North Korea. Its 2026 white paper said South and North Korea effectively exist as two states, while Seoul still seeks eventual unification.
(With inputs from Reuters)
