DMZ Facilities Also Face a Setback After the OPCON Dispute; Strains Persist in the South Korea-U.S. Alliance

[Financial News] Tensions are running high not only over the early transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) between South Korea and the United States, but also over jurisdiction over South Korean facilities inside the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
As the government clashes with General Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, over the transfer of wartime OPCON, the United Nations Command has raised a new issue, alleging that the Gyeongui Line History Center building in the DMZ encroaches on the DMZ's Southern Limit Line. General Brunson also serves as Commander-in-Chief of the United Nations Command.
According to the Ministry of Unification on the 20th, the UNC has reportedly recently requested consultations with the ministry, saying that the Gyeongui Line History Center building in the Military Demarcation Line area straddles the DMZ's Southern Limit Line. The OPCON handover dispute between South Korean and U.S. military authorities is compounded by friction between the Ministry of Unification and the UNC over South Korean facilities within the DMZ's Southern Limit Line, and unusual strains persist in the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
The UNC appears to be seeking to exercise authority over prior approval for access to the Gyeongui Line History Center building, as well as jurisdiction over it. The Ministry of Unification views this as an infringement of territorial sovereignty.
 An official at the Ministry of Unification disclosed that “the UNC has requested consultations, saying that the Gyeongui Line History Center building straddles the DMZ's Southern Limit Line.” Last year, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young held a workshop with the press corps covering the ministry at the Gyeongui Line History Center. The official said, “Rather than accepting the UNC's request, we are holding consultations,” adding, “The Ministry of Unification and the military are consulting together.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. government reiterated its existing position on South Korea's remarks about an early transfer of wartime OPCON, saying that the conditions previously agreed upon by both sides must be met first.
U.S. public broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) reported this in a report that day, citing the U.S. Department of War (Defense). In a written query submitted to the Department of War on the 19th, VOA asked for its position on President Lee Jae-myung's remarks about an early transfer of wartime OPCON and comments on OPCON by General Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea.
A Department of War official responded to the query, saying, “The transfer of OPCON remains a process based on conditions mutually agreed upon by the United States and South Korea.” The official added, “The two countries continue to agree that the necessary conditions should be met before the transfer takes place,” and said, “We will not prejudge the decisions or outcomes of this bilateral process.”
[email protected] Kim Gyeong-su Reporter