Germany officially joined the US-led United Nations Command (UNC) on Friday, becoming the 18th member state and marking the first expansion of the multinational force in over a decade.
Germany’s inclusion in the UNC, which oversees the armistice of the 1950-53 Korean War, comes as South Korea seeks to bolster cooperation with allied nations to counter North Korea’s growing military threats, according to Yonhap news agency.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Germany’s decision to join the UNC underscores the strengthening of security ties between Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
“By joining the United Nations Command, we demonstrate our commitment to collective security and our strong ties with like-minded partners, especially the US and Korea,” Pistorius said during a ceremony at the command’s headquarters in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.
“Our participation in the UNC signifies our firm belief that European security is inherently linked to the security of the Indo-Pacific region.”
This expansion is the first since 2013 when Italy was readmitted as a member.
Defense Minister Shin Won-sik lauded Germany’s admission during bilateral discussions with Pistorius earlier in the day, emphasizing that South Korea and the UNC now have a “new partner” to jointly address North Korean threats.
“Our talks today reaffirm that despite our geographical distance, our common interests and security concerns are closely aligned,” Pistorius added during the ceremony.
The command was established under a 1950 UN mandate to support South Korea against North Korean aggression during the war, which technically remains unresolved as a peace treaty was never signed.
A total of 22 countries, including the United States, Britain, and Australia, contributed troops or medical support to the South during and shortly after the war. Germany provided medical assistance to South Korea from 1954-59 but was not included as a UNC member state since the armistice was signed in July 1953.
Germany applied to join the multinational command earlier this year, a move welcomed by President Yoon Suk Yeol during his summit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington last month.
Berlin’s previous attempts to join the UNC were rejected in 2019 under the previous liberal administration of President Moon Jae-in amid a conciliatory approach towards North Korea. Pyongyang has long demanded the dissolution of the command.
Although South Korea is not a member state of the command, joining the multinational force requires consultations with the host country.
The stance has shifted under the conservative Yoon administration, which aims to enhance the UNC’s role amid escalating North Korean threats.
Last year, Seoul hosted the inaugural defense ministerial meeting of UNC member states, where they pledged a “united” response to any renewed hostilities or armed attacks threatening South Korea’s security.
North Korea has continued its weapons tests this year, launching 48 missiles on 14 occasions, according to South Korean officials.
Additionally, North Korea has strengthened military ties with Russia, with leaders Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin signing a “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty, including a mutual defense clause, during their summit in Pyongyang in June.
South Korea and the US have accused Pyongyang of supplying arms to Moscow for its war in Ukraine. Minister Shin mentioned in a recent Bloomberg interview that North Korea has sent 12,000 shipping containers to Russia, potentially holding up to 5.6 million artillery shells.
