Korean Demilitarised Zone

A 4 km wide and 240 km long region which divides the Korean Peninsula into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on the north and Republic of Korea on the south is referred to as Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

The meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was held at DMZ. President Trump became the first American president to visit DMZ.

How it came into being?

The DMZ came into being as a buffer at the close of the 1950-53 Korean War. The (DMZ) is a border barrier that divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half and was created by agreement between North Korea, China and the United Nations Command in 1953.

The 38th parallel north which divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half was the boundary between the United States and Soviet Union’s brief administration areas of Korea at the end of World War II.

After the creation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in 1948, 38th parallel became a de facto international border and was one of the tensest fronts during the Cold War.

This hostile environment led to Korean War between 1950-53. The conflict claimed over three million lives and divided the Korean Peninsula along ideological lines. The war ended with Armistice Agreement on 27 July 1953. This agreement led to the establishment of DMZ as each side agreed to move their troops back 2,000 m (1.2 miles) from the front line, creating a buffer zone 4 km (2.5 mi) wide.