What did Xavier Brunson say about the inter-Korean border, and how did the UNC explain his remarks?

Brunson said that, from the UNC’s perspective, Korean territory begins at the DMZ’s southern fence line. The UNC later said he was referring to the command’s military and administrative responsibilities under the Armistice Agreement, not questioning South Korea’s sovereignty.

How did Foreign Minister Cho Hyun raise South Korea’s concerns about Xavier Brunson’s border remarks with the United States?

Cho said he called U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel to the foreign ministry last week to convey Seoul’s position and would raise the matter with the U.S. side again. Government sources said the United States indicated it understood and shared Seoul’s concerns.

What is the status of South Korea and the United States’ discussions on transferring wartime OPCON?

Cho said the two countries’ military authorities were discussing the timing of the transfer and that the talks were proceeding well. The presidential office said consultations were continuing under the existing agreement, and Cho said he favored completing the transfer as soon as possible.

FM Cho says lodged complaint to US envoy over USFK chief's remarks on inter-Korean border

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Summary

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday he had raised South Korea’s concerns with U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel last week over USFK Commander Xavier Brunson’s remarks about the inter-Korean border. Brunson had said that, from the U.N. Command’s perspective, Korean territory begins at the DMZ’s southern fence line, prompting criticism that he was questioning South Korea’s sovereignty. The UNC said the remarks referred to its military and administrative responsibilities under the Armistice Agreement, not sovereignty. Cho also backed an early wartime OPCON transfer, while Seoul and Washington continue discussions on its timing.

Key Facts

Under the Korean Constitution, South Korea’s territory encompasses the entire Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands.
The UNC said Brunson’s remarks concerned the command’s military and administrative responsibilities under the Armistice Agreement.
Cho said the U.S. secretary of defense reaffirmed support for the OPCON transfer at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May.
The presidential office said Seoul and Washington were consulting under their existing agreement and that Brunson’s remarks were his personal views, not official U.S. policy.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 27, 2026 3:03 pm KST
Updated Oct 27, 2026 5:21 pm KST

Commander of U.S. Forces Korea Gen. Xavier Brunson, right, speaks during an American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM)-hosted uncheon at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. On the left is U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Tuesday he lodged a complaint to U.S. Ambassador to Korea Michelle Steel last week over recent remarks by the chief of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on the inter-Korean border.

Controversy has arisen over comments made by USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson at a seminar in Washington earlier this month, when he said that, from the U.N. Command's (UNC) perspective, Korean territory begins at the southern fence line of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), established under the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War.

Brunson also serves as commander of the UNC.

"Last week, I called Steel to the foreign ministry to convey our position following Brunson's remarks. I will raise the matter with the U.S. side again," Cho said during a parliamentary audit of his ministry, responding to a lawmaker's call for the government to issue "a clear warning" to Washington over the matter.

Some lawmakers and critics have accused Brunson of questioning Korea's territorial sovereignty. Under the Korean Constitution, the country's territory encompasses the entire Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands.

The UNC later clarified that Korea's sovereignty was not in question, saying Brunson had been referring to the command's military and administrative responsibilities under the Armistice Agreement.

The government has also conveyed its concerns through various channels, and the U.S. has indicated that it fully understands and shares Seoul's concerns, according to government sources.

Lawmakers also urged the ministry to lodge a strong protest with Washington over Brunson's remarks that "conditions have changed" for Korea to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington.

"I believe we should retake wartime OPCON as soon as possible," Cho said, noting that the U.S. secretary of defense had reaffirmed support for the transfer at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual Asian security forum, in May.

"The two countries' military authorities were continuing discussions on the timing of the transfer, and the talks were proceeding well," he added.

The presidential office said Seoul and Washington were continuing consultations under their existing agreement, stressing that Brunson's remarks represented his personal views and not official U.S. policy. President Lee Jae Myung has also reaffirmed his commitment to an early transfer.

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