A former United Nations Command (UNC) official stated that North Korea’s increased border fencing does not breach the Armistice Agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. Michael MacArthur Bosack, ex-deputy secretary of the UNC Military Armistice Commission, clarified this on social media. North Korean troops are erecting fences near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) dividing the two Koreas.
Bosack, who served at UNCMAC, mentioned that the Korean People’s Army’s boundary activities were not hostile during his tenure. North Korea reportedly placed barbed wire fences just 80-90 meters from the inter-Korean border. Bosack explained that such actions are considered “construction and maintenance” work, similar to what the South Korean army does on its side.
Regarding Pyongyang’s actions, Bosack emphasized that the border strengthening enhances stability on the ground. He believes it reduces the risk of unauthorized crossings in the long term. The South Korean military criticized North Korea’s border reinforcement as a violation of the Armistice Agreement. However, the UNC, responsible for enforcing the agreement, expressed caution, stating that these measures may not automatically breach the terms.
Bosack, who previously held a position at the UNC Military Armistice Commission, currently works at a private think tank.
