Military Demarcation Line
Template:Infobox Korean name The Military Demarcation Line (MDL), sometimes referred to as the Armistice Line, is the land border or demarcation line between North Korea and South Korea. On either side of the line is the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The MDL and DMZ were established by the Korean Armistice Agreement.<ref>The MDL was defined and established in the Korean Armistice Agreement (KAA), Article I, paragraphs 1–11. The KAA includes provisions regarding the MDL and DMZ; but those provisions do not extend into the Yellow Sea or the Sea of Japan. The subsequently devised Northern Boundary Line or NLL Template:Webarchive was neither initially conceived as part of the MDL, nor have the DPRK and UNC agreed to any subsequent extension of the MDL beyond the agreed upon limits of 1953/7/27.</ref>
In the Yellow Sea, the two Koreas are divided by a de facto maritime "military demarcation line" and maritime boundary called the Northern Limit Line (NLL) drawn by the United Nations Command in 1953.<ref>Ryoo, Moo Bong. (2009). "The Korean Armistice and the Islands," Template:Webarchive p. 5. Strategy research project at the U.S. Army War College; excerpt, "Strategic Consequences of the Agreement. The agreement to retain the five islands under UNC control has shaped many aspects of the security environment of the Korean Peninsula. The most obvious and prominent consequence is the establishment of the Northern Limit Line (NLL). The NLL has served as a practical maritime borderline and an effective means to separate the forces and thus prevent military clashes between the two Koreas"; compare Kim, Kwang-Tae. "After Exchange of Fire, N. Korea Threatens More Strikes on South," Template:Webarchive Time (US). November 23, 2010.</ref> The NLL is not described by the Korean Armistice Agreement.<ref>Pak, Hŭi-gwŏn. (2000). Template:Google books; excerpt, "Under the 1953 Armistice Agreement, the Military Demarcation Line was drawn across the Korean peninsula. Since no maritime demarcation line was specified in the Armistice Agreement, however, the United Nations Command drew the NLL...."</ref>
Demarcation on landEdit
The DMZ runs near the 38th parallel, covering roughly Template:Convert.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> American and South Korean soldiers patrol this line along the South Korean side while North Korean soldiers patrol along the North Korean side.
In Korean, the line is called the Hyujeonseon (휴전선), meaning "armistice line."<ref>See, e.g., Dictionary – Definition of armistice. Template:Webarchive</ref> It is also sometimes called the Gunsa Bungye-seon (군사분계선), which literally means "military demarcation line." However, in colloquial usage, the dividing line is more often called the Sampalseon (삼팔선, "38th parallel"), a name likely coined at the end of World War II, when it would have been an accurate description of the North-South border.
The line itself is marked off by a series of 1,292 identical signs which are placed at intervals across the peninsula. The north facing side of the signs are written in Korean and Chinese,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> and in Korean and English on the south facing side. The signs are now aging and rusting.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
Military incidentsEdit
There have been frequent skirmishes along the line since the armistice ended the fighting of the Korean War.
Northern Limit LineEdit
Template:Color box Template:Ifsubst style="color:red">B: North Korea-declared "Inter-Korean MDL", 1999<ref>Van Dyke, Jon et al. "The North/South Korea Boundary Dispute in the Yellow (West) Sea," Marine Policy 27 (2003), 143–58; note that "Inter-Korean MDL" is cited because it comes from an academic source Template:Webarchive and the writers were particular enough to include in quotes as we present it. The broader point is that the maritime demarcation line here is NOT a formal extension of the Military Demarcation Line; compare "NLL—Controversial Sea Border Between S.Korea, DPRK, " People's Daily (PRC), November 21, 2002; retrieved 22 Dec 2010</ref>
The locations of specific islands are reflected in the configuration of each maritime boundary, including
1. Yeonpyeong Island
2. Baengnyeong Island
3. Daecheong Island
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} {{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}
Although the Korean Armistice Agreement specifies where the demarcation line and demilitarized zone are located on land, the agreement does not mention lines or zones in adjacent ocean waters.<ref>Glionna, John M. "Sea border a trigger for Korean peninsula tension," Los Angeles Times (US). January 6, 2011; retrieved 2011-07-28</ref> Shortly after the signing of the Armistice, a line in the sea was drawn unilaterally by the United Nations Command (UNC).<ref>Kim Young-koo. "A Maritime Demarcation Dispute on the Yellow Sea: Republic of Korea," Template:Webarchive Journal of East Asia and International Law (JEAIL), Volume 2, Number 2.</ref> This Northern Limit Line or North Limit Line (NLL) represented the northern limit of the area in which South Korea permits its vessels to navigate, not a demarcation line on which the two Koreas agreed.<ref name="hankeoreh">"Modern meaning of Korea's maritime line," The Hankyoreh (ROK). October 15, 2007.</ref> The Korean Armistice Agreement (KAA) provisions regarding the MDL and DMZ do not extend into the Yellow Sea or Sea of Japan.<ref>In principle, the UNC and DPRK could agree to extend the MDL into the Yellow Sea (IAW para. 62 of the KAA); however, there is no such agreement.</ref>
In 1999, North Korea unilaterally asserted its own "North Korean Military Demarcation Line in the West Sea (Yellow Sea)",<ref>Zou, Keyuan. (2005). Template:Google books; excerpt, "In response to the unilateral NLL, the North Korean authorities declared after the 1999 incident (on 2 September 1999), that they had set up a 'North Korean Military Demarcation Line in the West Sea (Yellow Sea)' which overlaps with the existing NLL"; Lee, Hy-Sang Lee. (2001). Template:Google books; "South Korea is a criminal without principle." – Noth Korea [sic] Sri Lanka Guardian, November 25, 2010.</ref> also called the "Inter-Korean MDL in the Yellow Sea".<ref name="peoplesdaily2010">"NLL—Controversial Sea Border Between S.Korea, DPRK, " People's Daily (PRC), 2002-11-21; retrieved 2010-11-26.</ref>
Nonetheless, the UNC-drawn line functions as a de facto or "practical" extension of the 1953 MDL, despite occasional incursions and clashes.<ref>Ryoo, p. 11; excerpt, "The NLL has served as an effective means of preventing military tension between North and South Korean military forces for 46 years. It serves as a practical demarcation line, which has contributed to the separation of forces." Aigner, Erin and Haeoun Park. "Military Strike in the Waters Between North and South Korea," New York Times. November 23, 2010; Williams, David and Peter Simpson. retrieved 22 Dec 2010.</ref>
Joint Security Area crossingEdit
On October 16, 2018, the governments of North and South Korea agreed to allow locals and tourists to cross the Military Demarcation Line's infamous Joint Security Area location once it is cleared of personnel.<ref name=oct19>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=oct192>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The crossings will resemble the brief moment South Korean President Moon Jae-in stepped into North Korea with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un on April 27, 2018.<ref name=oct19 /><ref name=oct192 /> After the Joint Security Area was cleared of armed military personnel on October 25, 2018, it was announced that tourism at the MDL crossing would be delayed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Establishment of buffer zones, no-fly zones and Yellow Sea peace zonesEdit
On November 1, 2018, officials from the South Korean Ministry of Defense confirmed that buffer zones were established across the DMZ by the North and South Korean militaries to ensure that both militaries would keep their distance from the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).<ref name=nov1 /> In compliance with the Comprehensive Military Agreement which was signed at the September 2018 inter-Korean summit,<ref name=ncnkdirect /> the buffer zones help ensure that both Koreas will ban hostility on land, air and sea.<ref name=nov1 /> The buffer zones stretch from the north of Deokjeok Island to the south of Cho Island in the West Sea and the north of Sokcho city and south of Tongchon County in the East (Yellow) Sea.<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Both North and South Korea are prohibited from conducting live-fire artillery drills and regiment-level field maneuvering exercises or those by bigger units within 5 kilometers of the MDL.<ref name=nov1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ncnkdirect">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="auto"/>
No-fly zones have also been established along the DMZ to ban the operation of drones, helicopters and other aircraft over an area up to 40 km away from the MDL.<ref name=nov1 /><ref name=ncnkdirect /> For UAVs, the no-fly zone is 15 km from the MDL in the East and 10 km from the MDL in the West.<ref name=ncnkdirect /> For hot-air balloons, the zone is within 25 km from the MDL.<ref name=ncnkdirect /> For fixed-wing aircraft, no fly zones are designated within 40 km from the MDL in the East (between MDL Markers No. 0646 and 1292) and within 20 km of the MDL in the West (between MDL Markers No. 0001 and 0646).<ref name=ncnkdirect /> For rotary-wing aircraft, the no fly zones are designated within 10 km of the MDL.<ref name=ncnkdirect />
Both Koreas also established "peace zones" in the area of the Yellow Sea which borders the MDL as well.<ref name=nov1 /><ref name=ncnkdirect />
Reconnecting of MDL-crossing roadEdit
On November 22, 2018, North and South Korea completed construction to connect a three kilometer road along the DMZ.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=nov22>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The road, which travels across the MDL, has 1.7 km in South Korea and 1.3 km in North Korea.<ref name=nov22 /> The road was reconnected for the first time in 14 years in an effort to assist with a process at the DMZ's Arrowhead Hill involving the removal of landmines and exhumation of Korean War remains.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
Inter-Korean transportation servicesEdit
On November 30, 2018, following the removal of the "frontline" guard posts and Arrowhead Hill landmines, rail transportation between North and South Korea (which ceased in November 2008) resumed when a South Korean train crossed the MDL into North Korea.<ref name=nov30>Template:Cite news</ref> On December 8, 2018, a South Korean bus crossed the MDL into North Korea.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Military border crossingEdit
On December 12, 2018, militaries from both Koreas crossed the MDL into the opposition countries for the first time in history to verify the removal of "frontline" guard posts.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On June 5, 2024, South Korea's military announced that it would resume all military activity on the MDL after the suspension of an inter-Korean military agreement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
See alsoEdit
- Division of Korea
- Panmunjom
- Camp Bonifas
- Aftermath of the Korean War
- Inner German border
- Demarcation line between occupied France and Vichy France
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- Lee, Hy-Sang Lee. (2001). North Korea: a Strange Socialist Fortress. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. Template:ISBN; OCLC 237388400
- Pak, Hŭi-gwŏn. (2000). The Law of the Sea and Northeast Asia: a Challenge for Cooperation. Boston: Kluwer Law International. Template:ISBN; OCLC 154667938
- Van Dyke, Jon M., Mark J. Valencia and Jenny Miller Garmendia. "The North/South Korea Boundary Dispute in the Yellow (West) Sea," . Marine Policy 27 (2003), 143–158.
- Zou, Keyuan Zou. (2005). Law of the Sea in East Asia: Issues and Prospects. London: Routledge. Template:ISBN; OCLC 55960798