The commander of the United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea says the redrawing of the western sea border between South and North Korea requires its consent.

The Defense Ministry has solicited the opinion of the UNC on the issue of redrawing the Northern Limit Line that is likely to be on the agenda at the upcoming inter-Korean summit.

The Seoul-based Chosun Ilbo newspaper quoted U.N. Commander General Burwell Bell as saying Thursday that the de facto inter-Korean border is not a matter for the two Koreas to decide alone. He added that any possible change needs consent from the UNC in accordance with the 1953 armistice.

According to the report, the U.N. Command is likely to protest if the two Koreas launch talks aimed at redrawing the NLL. North Korea has repeatedly called for the West Sea border to be redrawn in previous inter-Korean military talks.