JOINT SECURITY AREA
North and South Korea 1953 – present
On the border between North and South Korea lies the demilitarised zone, more commonly known as the DMZ, a vast area which incorporates land from both sides and works as a buffer between the two nations. Created as part of the 1953 ceasefire agreement, the DMZ is 240km long and 4km wide. Within this vast space on the 38th parallel is a small area which was once the location of the small village of Panmunjom. Now known as the Joint Security Area (though the JSA is interchangeably used to describe both Panmunjom and other buildings in this area) this was the location of the initial 1953 conference between representatives of the United Nations, South Korea, North Korea and Chinese forces.
In the decades since its establishment the Joint Security Area developed a reputation as one of the most frightening places on Earth. For years the area was used for tense prisoner exchanges and witnessed a number of defections. Manned by soldiers from both sides, it was the site of several incidents that nearly plunged both nations back into full-blown war.
Several times during 2018, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met in the JSA in order to ease tensions between the two countries. On 19 September that year the two leaders signed an agreement that stated that the area would be demilitarised with guard posts, weapons, landmines and the majority of personnel removed from the area and instead it would become available to tourism. Today the site is administered by the United Nations Command and each side is permitted to have no more than 35 personnel on duty at any given time.