South Korea's Defense Minister, An Kyu-baek, visited front-line troops performing guard operations during the Lunar New Year holiday on the 15th. During this visit, he encountered soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division wearing 'military police (MP)' armbands. This usage of military police armbands is significant due to the 1953 Armistice Agreement, which restricts military access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for combat or military purposes. According to Article 1, sections 9 and 10 of the Armistice Agreement, only personnel executing civil administration and relief work, or those specifically approved by the Military Armistice Commission, are permitted access to the DMZ.

Currently, civilian access to the DMZ is prohibited, raising concerns about the necessity for civil administration and relief work in an area devoid of civilian presence. Initially, when the 1953 Armistice Agreement was signed, agricultural activities and residences existed in the DMZ. Additionally, a supplementary agreement adopted six months later allowed for civilian access for agricultural activities. This was intended to support the livelihoods of residents from both Koreas while preventing armed fortification of the DMZ.

Since the 1950s, South Korea has granted military police status to front-line soldiers, allowing them to operate in the DMZ under a 'military police' designation. This practice has evolved over decades, but the recent presence of military police armbands has sparked debates about the compliance with the constraints placed by the Armistice Agreement. This situation highlights a persistent conflict between military operations in sensitive areas and adherence to historical agreements designed to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.