S. Korea conveys concerns to US over USFK commander's DMZ remarks
Seoul expressed concerns to Washington over remarks made by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson that Seoul sees as ignoring South Korea’s territorial sovereignty, a government source said Monday. The concerns over Brunson's remarks on South Korea's territorial border and other issues were recently conveyed to the U.S. side, which, in return, said they understand and share South…
South Korea has conveyed its concerns to the United States regarding remarks made by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson, according to a government source. These concerns stem from Brunson's comments on South Korea's territorial border and other issues, which Seoul sees as disregarding the nation's territorial sovereignty. In response, U.S. officials acknowledged their understanding and shared South Korea's stance against the remarks, as per the source.
The controversy erupted during a seminar in Washington (local time) on Wednesday, when Brunson, who also serves as the commander of the United Nations Command (UNC), stated that from the UNC's perspective, South Korea begins at the southern fence of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Brunson was discussing the UNC's responsibilities within the DMZ under the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.
The UNC has jurisdiction over access and activities in the DMZ as per the armistice, but this authority does not extend to determining territorial sovereignty over the land.
South Korean officials took objection to Brunson's wording because South Korean territory extends north of the DMZ, and Brunson's comments implied otherwise.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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