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The Ministry of Defense and the armed forces have tapped the opinion of United Nations Command on whether the upcoming inter-Korean summit should discussing a change in the de-facto maritime border between the two Koreas, sources say. The UNC, the largely nominal body whose role is to oversee the armistice and which is headed by the U.S. Forces Korea Commander, was quoted as pointing out that the Northern Limit Line is not a matter the two Koreas can decide by themselves but needs consent from the UNC under the conditions of the truce. The UNC is likely to protest if the two Koreas, as the North is demanding, begin discussion on redrawing the NLL.
A government source on Wednesday said top military leaders and the government have recently asked the UNC about its view on a change in the NLL, apparently prompted by the approaching summit. ˇ°As far as I know, the UNC maintains that Korea needs its consent if we are to seek a change," the source added. The command said if the two Koreas sought a change, they need consent to maintain and supervise the armistice that still officially halts hostilities on the peninsula, since it was declared by the UNC commander in 1953. "At present, Korea and the U.S. are exchanging opinions on the NLL,ˇ± another government source said. ˇ°My understanding is that the UNC is as adamant that it should be the body to make any decision on the NLL by itself."
But some government officials and experts say the two Koreas should consult with the UNC but do not need its consent to redraw the NLL, because the South Korean military in effect patrols the sea border by itself; this is in contrast to the Demilitarized Zone on land, which the UNC has more palpably controlled since 1953. Then UNC commander Mark Clark drew the NLL on Aug. 30, 1953 to prevent accidental armed clashes between the two Koreas in the waters around the Korean Peninsula.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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