In June 2015, a North Korean soldier defected to South Korea by crossing the infamously
dangerous Korean Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ.
Although over a thousand people defect from North Korea every year, it is rare for them
to cross the heavily policed DMZ that separates North and South Korea.
So, what is the DMZ?
Well, following World War II, Korea was split in half.
The South was administered by the United States, while the North came under the direction of
the Soviet Union.
Although both countries soon gained their independence, tensions eventually led to the
Korean War in 1950.
The end of the war created the fortified and constantly monitored border running between
the two countries.
It is about 150-miles-long and 2 and a half miles wide, and has the largest military buildup
of any border in the world.
This no-man’s-land in between is littered with electrified fences, landmines and gun
turrets.
Since no human activity is possible along the DMZ, the undisturbed land has inadvertently
become a wildlife sanctuary.
In fact, is serves as home for a third of the endangered red crowned crane population,
and other endangered species.
Besides a train track, the only place to cross from one side to the other is called the Joint
Security Area.
This is where negotiations and meetings have occurred between the two countries, in the
presence of the US and the UN.
On either side of the line, soldiers square off in a decades-long, intimidating stare
down.
Neither side is allowed to talk to each other outside of scheduled meetings, and even human
contact is discouraged.
Despite a number of deadly incidents and extremely high tensions, the area is regularly visited
by tour groups.
As many as 100,000 tourists come to the Joint Security Area every year, from both sides
of the border.
Visitors are asked to sign a declaration that states “The visit to the Joint Security
Area at Panmunjom will entail entry into a hostile area and possibility of injury or
death as a direct result of enemy action.
“
Although an armistice between the two countries has been in effect for over 50 years, no peace
treaty has been signed and the two countries are still at war.
Until they make peace, the DMZ will continue to be a divided and volatile boundary.
Want to learn more about the conflict between North and South Korea?
Check out our video on whether the two countries could become one in
the future.Thanks for watching TestTube, don’t forget to subscribe!