What is the DMZ?

CROSSING a Demilitarized Zone can often lead to heavy consequences including detainment. 

In 2019, former president Donald Trump was the first sitting US President to cross the DMZ prompting others to wonder what exactly a demilitarized zone actually is.

What is the demilitarized zone?

A demilitarized zone, also known as DMZ, is a strip of land that acts as a border between one country to another in order to maintain a neutral balance between the two parties.

One of the more popular DMZ is the one between North and South Korea.

Following the Korean War, which ended in 1953, the Korean Demilitarized Zone was established after an armistice was signed.

The Korean DMZ expands to 148 miles long.

Though the two countries are still at war, the DMZ ensures there is peace kept between the two.

In order to keep that peace, both sides of the border are heavily armed with troops.

Within the neutral zone is a meeting point where negotiations take place between the leaders of the two opposing nations.

Are there any notable DMZs?

Throughout the years, there had been many DMZs around the world apart from the Korean DMZ.

Though many are no longer utilized, in the past, DMZs were heavily used to keep peace between countries.

These DMZs include:

• The Green Line in Cyprus — abandoned in 1974
• Iraq and Kuwait Border — abandoned in 1991
• Golan Border between Israel and Syria — is still active
• Saudi Arabia and Iraq Neutral Zone — abandoned in 1991
• Vietnamese DMZ — abandoned in 1976

Can you cross a DMZ?

In most circumstances, you can't cross the DMZ without permission.

As for the Korean DMZ, tourists are allowed to place their feet on both sides of the country but they aren't allowed to cross it.

Additionally, you are able to travel to each country separately but aren't able to cross South Korea from North and vice versa.

People who often travel to these countries travel from Russia or China.

Apart from Donald Trump crossing the DMZ to meet with both leaders, those who have crossed the DMZ have either been shot, detained, or deported back to their place of origin.

Recently, on July 18, 2023, a US Army soldier named Travis King, 23, willingly crossed the DMZ from South to North Korea.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters that King crossed the border "willfully and without authorization."

Before the incident, he was released from a South Korean prison where he "had been escorted by the military to Incheon International Airport outside Seoul, the capital, for possible further disciplinary action in the United States."

However, instead of making his way to his gate, he attempted to camouflage himself with a commercial tour group who were on their way to the tourist section of the DMZ.

Upon arrival, King bolted to the other side where he was detained and is now in North Korean custody.

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