Seoul asserts right to peaceful DMZ use amid inter-Korean tensions

South Korea's unification minister publicly asserted the country's right to peaceful use of the Demilitarized Zone, a notable rhetorical shift from the traditional posture of treating the DMZ as a strictly military buffer. The statement signals a potential policy pivot toward civilian and economic development of the border area, though it remains unclear if this reflects a concrete government plan or is a diplomatic signal to North Korea. This matters as it could alter the status quo on the Korean Peninsula and provoke a response from Pyongyang.