USFK commander under fire for comments undermining South Korea’s territorial sovereignty

Gen. Xavier Brunson, the commander of US Forces Korea, attends the appointment ceremony of Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul at the Ministry of National Defense on Sept. 22, 2026. (Yonhap)

South Korea’s Defense Ministry pushed back against remarks by Gen. Xavier Brunson, the commander of US Forces Korea, the UN Command and the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, who said South Korea begins at the fence south of the Military Demarcation Line, calling the comment his “personal opinion.”

After Brunson’s remarks drew criticism that he was questioning South Korea’s territorial sovereignty, the UN Command (UNC) sought to defuse the controversy, saying the country’s sovereignty was not in question.

 “The comment in question was a personal opinion voiced by the UNC commander,” the Defense Ministry stated on Sunday, noting that it has a “clear stance” on Korea’s territorial sovereignty.

 “The ministry will work closely with the UNC to ensure that Korea can exercise sovereignty within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the UNC can manage the armistice in harmony,” it added. 

 The ministry made it clear that Korea also exercises sovereignty over the DMZ.

 The clarification comes after remarks by Brunson at a seminar hosted by the Washington-based Gold Institute for International Strategy on Wednesday. 

“When you look at the Military Demarcation Line, 2,500 meters north, 2,500 meters south, there is a fence line,” he said. “There’s an area that I am tasked to administer. Where do sovereign concerns come in there?”

 “Where does the Republic of Korea begin and end? In my mind, looking at it through the lens of the United Nations command, it begins at that southern fence line. That’s where the Republic of Korea begins, because I administer that area in order to maintain a state of armistice,” he said. 

 The fence line Brunson described as lying south of the MDL is known as the Southern Limit Line, and the actual distance of the fences is closer to 2,000 meters on either side of the Military Demarcation Line, also known as the Armistice Line.

 As the backlash mounted, the UNC sought to contain the controversy in a statement Sunday, stressing that South Korea’s sovereignty was not in question.

The UNC added that Brunson was explaining the responsibility assigned to the UNC commander regarding the DMZ and the Joint Security Area under the Armistice Agreement. This includes military and civil administration, as well as relief for civilians, within the area of the DMZ south of the MDL.

 The UNC clarified that the responsibilities are of a military and administrative nature and do not affect Korea’s sovereignty. It added that Brunson’s remarks were not intended to address the question of sovereignty.

 A senior Democratic Party official suggested there was also disagreement within the US over Brunson’s remarks. “My understanding is that many in the US do not believe Brunson speaks for the majority,” the official said.

 Brunson’s remarks suggest that he holds a fundamental misconception about the MDL. Brunson views the line as a border separating the two Koreas, but the MDL, established under the Korean Armistice Agreement, is not an international border. Rather, it is a military demarcation line intended to separate the two sides’ forces and temporarily suspend hostilities.

 As a signatory to the Armistice Agreement, the UNC bears full responsibility for managing the armistice. Critics say the commander of the multinational force had demonstrated a lack of understanding of the MDL’s status under international law.

 Furthermore, Brunson mentioned “new standards” that Korea has to uphold when discussing the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) during Wednesday’s seminar, citing the rapidly changing security environment on the Korean Peninsula.

 Given the unpredictable security environment, Brunson emphasized, Korea must build military capabilities that meet the new standards and criteria.

Brunson’s remarks have fueled growing criticism in Korea, coming amid tensions over his position on the transfer of wartime OPCON, which conflicts with the government’s goal of regaining control by 2028, and the Lee Jae Myung administration’s ongoing dispute with the UNC over the peaceful use of the DMZ.

Experts say Brunson’s recent remarks have also raised concerns about respect for the principle of civilian control over the military. Civilian control of the military is the principle that elected civilian authorities, rather than military leaders, hold ultimate authority over military policy and strategic decisions.

 “It is extremely problematic that Brunson, an active-duty US Army general, keeps making political statements. In April, Brunson claimed that Korea’s efforts to regain OPCON were focused on political expediency; yet he himself is constantly making political statements characteristic of a defense minister or the president,” said Suh Jae-jung, a visiting scholar at Duke University.

 Officials at South Korea’s Defense Ministry are reportedly frustrated by what they see as Brunson’s increasingly unpredictable behavior.

Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul announced during a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit of the military courts on Thursday that protests have been lodged with the US regarding Brunson’s recent public comments.

 The ruling Democratic Party also urged Brunson to issue an apology for disregarding Korea’s territorial sovereignty with his comments.

 Rep. Kim Byung-joo, a special adviser for defense policy and a ranking party member of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, slammed Brunson for crossing a line with remarks infringing upon Korea’s territorial sovereignty.

 “Under the Armistice Agreement, the UNC only has the authority to grant access to the DMZ and to oversee civil administration affairs. The UNC has absolutely no right to dictate the territorial sovereignty of Korea, which is a sovereign nation,” he said, urging Brunson to “immediately retract his offensive remarks infringing on Korea’s sovereignty, and to apologize to the Korean public.”

 Rep. Jin Sung-joon, the chairperson of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, also voiced criticism on Friday. 

“Brunson’s comments are inconsistent with our Constitution, which defines the territory of Korea as the Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands,” he said. 

“I cannot hide my dismay and shock that the person who has sparked such a serious controversy regarding the territory and sovereignty of our country is the commander of the UNC, ROK-US Combined Forces Command, and the USFK. Now, I am concerned about whether we will be able to reach a substantive agreement on the transfer of OPCON,” he said. 

 By Kwon Hyuk-chul, staff reporter; Kim Chae-woon, staff reporter; Seo Young-ji, staff reporter