SEOUL — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea on Friday, concluding his Asian tour amid continuing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
During his visit, Merz reflected on Germany’s own experience of national division, saying Germans understood the suffering caused by the separation of a country. He emphasized that commitment to shared values and the willingness to pursue dialogue could eventually overcome political and physical barriers.
The German leader reaffirmed Berlin’s support for South Korea and expressed hope that the Korean people would one day achieve reunification under conditions of freedom.
The Korean Peninsula has remained divided since the 1950–1953 Korean War ended with an armistice agreement rather than a formal peace treaty. Consequently, the two countries technically remain at war.
Before arriving in South Korea, Merz also visited Singapore and Japan as part of his regional diplomatic tour.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Kim Song, strongly criticized a recent report by the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the country.
Kim rejected the report, describing it as an attack on North Korea’s domestic policies and national sovereignty. He argued that human rights issues should not be separated from state sovereignty and maintained that the matter fell within the country’s internal jurisdiction.
His remarks reflected Pyongyang’s continued opposition to international criticism of its human rights record, further highlighting the diplomatic divisions surrounding the Korean Peninsula.
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