Recently, there have been reports of gunfire along the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), prompting the United Nations Command (UNC) to accuse both North and South Korea of violating the Korean Armistice Agreement 1953.
About the United Nations Command
The UNC is a unified command for multinational military forces, led by the USA. Its principal function is to monitor affairs in the DMZ and to ensure that both North and South Korea adhere to the terms of the armistice. The UNC was established on 24th July 1950 in Tokyo, Japan.
Investigation into Recent Shootings at DMZ
Following the recent gunfire at DMZ, a special investigation was conducted by the UNC. The findings from this investigation were unfortunately not accepted by South Korea due to North Korea’s refusal to cooperate. The investigations tried but were unsuccessful in establishing whether the shootings that originated from North Korea had been calculated or accidental.
Violation of the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018
The shooting also breaches the terms of the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018, an inter-Korean military agreement that called for reduced military tensions between the two countries.
About the Korean Armistice Agreement 1953
The Korean Armistice Agreement was signed on 27th July 1953 and halted the Korean War of 1950-53; it established the DMZ and remains the current border between the two countries. A significant role in the ceasefire agreement was played by India, which helped strengthen India-South Korea relations. This agreement was designed to ensure a complete stoppage of hostilities and armed force in Korea until a peaceful settlement could be achieved.
Why South Korea Didn’t Sign the Armistice
South Korea did not sign the armistice, as it refused to acknowledge it. Thus, in the absence of an official peace treaty, the two countries officially remain at war. Nonetheless, in December 1991, North and South Korea signed a pact agreeing to refrain from aggression against each other.
The Road Ahead for North and South Korea
Both North and South Korea should strive towards improving relations and work towards a potential resolution through bilateral discussions that could potentially lead to an official peace treaty, formally ending the Korean war. The preconditions to achieve lasting peace and mutual growth include the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and the withdrawal of USA’s nuclear-capable forces from South Korea.