South Korea’s push to gain control over civilian access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) has brought the government into conflict with the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) over how far its authority under the Korean War armistice extends into South Korean territory.

Three bills introduced by ruling Democratic Party (DP) lawmakers would establish legal grounds for the peaceful use of the DMZ, including environmental conservation, tourism and inter-Korean cooperation.

Two would give South Korean authorities new powers to approve civilian entry, a responsibility the UNC has exercised since the 1953 Armistice Agreement.

The command maintains that the proposed changes