Person

Xavier Brunson

1. USFK commander Xavier Brunson's remark that South Korea 'begins at the DMZ's southern fence' sparks sovereignty row

   US Forces Korea and UN Command commander Xavier Brunson told a seminar in Washington last Wednesday that from the UN Command's perspective South Korea begins at the southern fence of the DMZ, because he manages that area to maintain the armistice. The DMZ, set up under the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement, is about 250 km long, with its southern boundary 2 km from the Military Demarcation Line and South Korean villages inside. South Korea's ruling party said the remark denied Korean sovereignty over the DMZ's southern half and the army chief of staff disagreed; UN Command then issued a statement saying South Korea's sovereignty is not in question.

   Oct 20, 2026 Morning