KDMZ

KDMZ refers to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, a buffer zone established by the Korean Armistice Agreement in July 1953 to separate North Korea and South Korea. It runs approximately 250 kilometers (160 miles) long and about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) wide. The zone is heavily fortified by both sides with fences, minefields, and military patrols. Despite its name, the KDMZ is one of the most militarized borders in the world. It is a significant symbol of the ongoing division of the Korean Peninsula and the unresolved Korean War. The Joint Security Area (JSA), also known as Panmunjom, is a small section within the KDMZ where North and South Korean forces stand face-to-face. This area is the only place where soldiers from both countries directly interact. The KDMZ is also a unique ecological area, as the lack of human activity for decades has allowed wildlife to flourish within its boundaries. Numerous attempts at reconciliation and dialogue have taken place within the KDMZ, but tensions remain a constant feature of this heavily guarded border.