U.S. military officials said South Korea has proposed assuming jurisdiction over sections of the southern Demilitarized Zone located south of the fence line. Military sources said on May 5, 2026, that the Ministry of National Defense has pursued discussions with the United States since last year and sought to include the issue in bilateral forums such as the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue and the Security Consultative Meeting.
The proposal would maintain United Nations Command jurisdiction north of the fence within the southern DMZ buffer of 2 km (1.2 mi) while transferring authority over areas south of the fence to South Korean forces. These areas account for about 30 percent of the southern DMZ sector, where South Korean troops already operate general outposts and conduct routine patrols due to fence segments deviating from the Southern Limit Line because of terrain and operational constraints.
Military planners argue the shift is practical and could allow a partial reopening of the DMZ Peace Trail promoted by Unification Minister Jeong Dong Young, which launched in April 2019 but saw DMZ sections in Paju, Cheorwon, and Goseong closed in April 2024 despite 11 total routes. Discussions remain at the working level with no definitive response from the Pentagon or the United Nations Command, and the Defense Ministry said Defense Minister An Kyu Baek has not formally presented the proposal to UNC Commander Gen. Javier Brunson.
The proposal is separate from the DMZ Law, which would limit South Korean jurisdiction to non military access. The United Nations Command opposed the law in late April 2026, warning it would violate the armistice agreement and undermine the commander’s authority.