Editing Military Demarcation Line

{{Short description|Land border between North and South Korea}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}[[File:Korea DMZ.svg|thumb|350px|The Military Demarcation Line within the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone]].]]
{{Infobox Korean name
| hangul = 군사분계선 / 휴전선
| hanja = 軍事分界線 / 休戰線
| rr = Gunsabungyeseon / Hyujeonseon
| mr = Kunsabungyesŏn / Hyujŏnsŏn
}}
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 [http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/099th_issue/990616015.htm NLL] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311044853/http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/099th_issue/990616015.htm |date=2012-03-11 }} 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#Unresolved maritime boundaries|maritime boundary]] called the [[Northern Limit Line]] (NLL) drawn by the [[United Nations Command]] in 1953.<ref>Ryoo, Moo Bong. (2009). [http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA500904&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf "The Korean Armistice and the Islands,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221081755/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA500904&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf |date=2013-02-21 }} 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. [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2032789,00.html#ixzz16AytHQUq  "After Exchange of Fire, N. Korea Threatens More Strikes on South,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126232614/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2032789,00.html |date=2010-11-26 }} ''Time'' (US). November 23, 2010.</ref> The NLL is not described by the Korean Armistice Agreement.<ref>Pak, Hŭi-gwŏn. (2000). {{Google books|szcywfgKySAC|''The Law of the Sea and Northeast Asia: a Challenge for Cooperation,'' |page=108}}; 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 land==

[[File:Demarcation Line Korea 1956.jpg|thumb|250px|MDL sign in Joint Security Area, 1956.]]
[[File:MilitaryDemarcationLine.jpg|thumb|250px|Bridge MDL sign.]]
[[File:Bridge of No Return - Southern end - MDL Korea 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Bridge MDL sign in context.]]
[[File:Korean DMZ Border 2009.jpg|thumb|250px|The MDL between the North (left) and South (right), marked by a concrete slab between the conference buildings on JSA.]]
The DMZ runs near the [[38th parallel north|38th parallel]], covering roughly {{convert|248|km|mi|sp=us}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Korean War History |url=http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/dmz/dmz.cfm?Subject=History2 |access-date=2006-01-12 |website=lifeinkorea.com}}</ref> [[United States|American]] and [[South Korea]]n soldiers patrol this line along the South Korean side while [[North Korea]]n soldiers patrol along the North Korean side.

In [[Korean language|Korean]], the line is called the ''Hyujeonseon'' (휴전선), meaning "armistice line."<ref>See, e.g., [http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/Armistice?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=Armistice&sa=Search#906 Dictionary – Definition of armistice.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628223126/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/Armistice?cx=partner-pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=Armistice&sa=Search |date=2011-06-28 }}</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>{{Cite AV media |url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/d7/15/b5d715f0df87a30ca14f3989d62a85bc.jpg |title=MDL sign seen from the North |type=JPG |language=Korean |publisher=i.pinimg.com}}</ref> and in Korean and English on the south facing side. The signs are now aging and rusting.<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j5IstcgLvg|title=North Korean troops cross the border for guard post inspections|date=13 December 2018 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>

===Military incidents===
There have been [[List of border incidents involving North Korea|frequent skirmishes]] along the line since the armistice ended the fighting of the [[Korean War]].

==Northern Limit Line==
[[File:Map of Korean maritime border.svg|thumb|350px|The disputed maritime [[border]] between North and South Korea in the [[Yellow Sea|West Sea]]:<ref name="ryoo13">Ryoo, Moo Bong. (2009). [http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA500904&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf "The Korean Armistice and the Islands,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221081755/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA500904&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf |date=2013-02-21 }} p. 13 (at  [https://web.archive.org/web/20111112202918/http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA500904&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf  PDF-p. 21] ). Strategy research project at the U.S. Army War College; retrieved 26 Nov 2010.</ref>

{{Color box|blue|border=darkgray}} {{color|blue|'''A:'''}} [[United Nations Command]]-created Northern Limit Line,  1953<ref name="reuters2010">[https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AM2O820101123 "Factbox: What is the Korean Northern Limit Line?"] Reuters (UK). November 23, 2010; retrieved 26 Nov 2010.</ref><br />
{{Color box|red|border=darkgray}} {{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 [http://www.law.hawaii.edu/sites/www.law.hawaii.edu/files/webFM/Faculty/N-SKoreaBoundary2003.pdf academic source] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309130908/http://www.law.hawaii.edu/sites/www.law.hawaii.edu/files/webFM/Faculty/N-SKoreaBoundary2003.pdf |date=2012-03-09 }} 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 [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200211/21/eng20021121_107188.shtml "NLL—Controversial Sea Border Between S.Korea, DPRK, "] ''People's Daily'' (PRC), November 21, 2002; retrieved 22 Dec 2010</ref><br />
The locations of specific islands are reflected in the configuration of each maritime boundary, including<br />
1. [[Yeonpyeong Island]]<br />
2. [[Baengnyeong Island]]<br />
3. [[Daecheong Island]]]]
{{Main|Northern Limit Line}}
{{Main|Korean maritime border incidents}}

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|ocean waters]].<ref>Glionna, John M. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jan-06-la-fg-korea-sea-border-20110107-story.html  "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. [https://www.judicialview.com/Law-Review/International/A-Maritime-Demarcation-Dispute-on-the-Yellow-Sea:-Republic-of-Korea/33/8809  "A Maritime Demarcation Dispute on the Yellow Sea: Republic of Korea,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713124732/https://www.judicialview.com/Law-Review/International/A-Maritime-Demarcation-Dispute-on-the-Yellow-Sea:-Republic-of-Korea/33/8809 |date=2011-07-13 }} ''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">[http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/243031.html  "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). {{Google books|34_T4TRmELQC|''Law of the Sea in East Asia: Issues and Prospects,'' |page=7}}; 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). {{Google books|6Rx8Q_cxqvkC|''North Korea: a Strange Socialist Fortress,'' p. 191|page=191}}; [http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/11/south-korea-is-criminal-without.html  "South Korea is a criminal without principle." – Noth Korea &#91;sic&#93;] ''Sri Lanka Guardian,'' November 25, 2010.</ref> also called the "Inter-Korean MDL in the Yellow Sea".<ref name="peoplesdaily2010">[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200211/21/eng20021121_107188.shtml "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. [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/23/world/asia/1123-korea.html "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 crossing ==
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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/south-korea/articles/selfies-dmz-north-south-korea-wagah-cyprus-darien/|title=Selfies in the Korean DMZ – and other unusual border travel experiences|first=Chris|last=Leadbeater|website=The Telegraph|date=19 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=oct192>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-17/south-koreans-may-soon-get-chance-to-walk-across-fortified-dmz|title = Tourists May Soon Get to Walk Across the DMZ Between North and South Korea|newspaper = Bloomberg.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.traveller.com.au/south-korea-dmz-border-tourists-to-be-allowed-to-walk-across-into-north-korea-h16sa6|title=Tourists will soon be allowed to walk across the world's tensest border|date=October 18, 2018|website=Traveller}}</ref> The crossings will resemble the brief moment [[President of South Korea|South Korean President]] [[Moon Jae-in]] stepped into North Korea with [[Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea|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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/10/25/South-Korea-disarms-Joint-Security-Area-in-North-South-border/1631540459514/|title=South Korea disarms Joint Security Area in North-South border|website=UPI}}</ref>

== Establishment of buffer zones, no-fly zones and Yellow Sea peace zones==
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">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nknews.org/2018/10/two-koreas-end-military-drills-begin-operation-of-no-fly-zone-near-mdl-mnd/|title=Two Koreas end military drills, begin operation of no-fly zone near MDL: MND|date=November 1, 2018|website=[[NK News]] – North Korea News}}</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>{{Cite web|url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2018/11/01/0200000000AEN20181101002500315.html|title = Yonhap News Agency}}</ref><ref name="ncnkdirect">{{Cite web |title=Agreement on the Implementation of the Historic Panmunjom Declaration in the Military Domain |url=https://www.ncnk.org/sites/default/files/Agreement%20on%20the%20Implementation%20of%20the%20Historic%20Panmunjom%20Declaration%20in%20the%20Military%20Domain.pdf |website=The National Committee on North Korea |page=2}}</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&nbsp;km away from the MDL.<ref name=nov1 /><ref name=ncnkdirect /> For UAVs, the no-fly zone is 15&nbsp;km from the MDL in the East and 10&nbsp;km from the MDL in the West.<ref name=ncnkdirect />  For hot-air balloons, the zone is within 25&nbsp;km from the MDL.<ref name=ncnkdirect /> For fixed-wing aircraft, no fly zones are designated within 40&nbsp;km from the
MDL in the East (between MDL Markers No. 0646 and 1292) and within 20&nbsp;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&nbsp;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 road==
On November 22, 2018, North and South Korea completed construction to connect a three kilometer road along the DMZ.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20181122006452315|title=(2nd LD) Koreas connect road inside heavily fortified DMZ|date=November 22, 2018|website=[[Yonhap News Agency]]}}</ref><ref name=nov22>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/south-north-korea-connect-border-road-through-dmz/1318769|title=South, North Korea connect border road through DMZ|website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> The road, which travels across the MDL, has 1.7&nbsp;km in South Korea and 1.3&nbsp;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>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/After-14-years,-a-road-to-unite-the-Koreas-and-recover-the-remains-of-the-fallen-45545.html|title=After 14 years, a road to unite the Koreas and recover the remains of the fallen|website=www.asianews.it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 November 2018 |title=North and South Korea join roads after 14 years |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-south-korea-join-roads-124905264.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226013329/https://www.yahoo.com/news/web/20240226013329/https://news.yahoo.com/news/north-south-korea-join-roads-124905264.html |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |website= |publisher=[[Reuters]] |via=[[Yahoo News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=North and South Korea join roads after 14 years |url=https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/national/north-and-south-korea-join-roads-after-14-years/video/af8a644187eb15024a900b16826ebd24 |work=[[The Cairns Post]]}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024|fix-attempted=ye}}{{Cbignore}}</ref>

==Inter-Korean transportation services==
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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/30/first-train-decade-departs-south-korea-north-korea/|title=First train in a decade departs South Korea for North Korea|first=Gianluca|last=Avagnina|date=November 30, 2018|newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref> On December 8, 2018, a South Korean bus crossed the MDL into North Korea.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=141408|title=Joint Inspection of N. Korea's Eastern Rail Line Begins|website=world.kbs.co.kr}}</ref>

==Military border crossing==
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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-south-korea-troops-cross-demilitarized-zone-in-peace-first-time/|title=Troops cross North-South Korea Demilitarized Zone in peace for 1st time ever|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=12 December 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/north-and-south-korean-soldiers-enter-each-others-territory/north-invades-the-south/slideshow/67057861.cms |title=North and South Korean soldiers enter each other's territory – North invades the South |work=The Economic Times |access-date=2018-12-12 |archive-date=2018-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216000253/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/north-and-south-korean-soldiers-enter-each-others-territory/north-invades-the-south/slideshow/67057861.cms |url-status=dead }}</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>{{Cite news |date=2024-06-04 |title=South Korea to resume all military activities along demarcation line |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-says-it-will-resume-military-activities-along-demarcation-line-2024-06-04/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Division of Korea]]
* [[Panmunjom]]
* [[Camp Bonifas]]
* [[Aftermath of the Korean War]]
* [[Inner German border]]
* [[Demarcation line (France)|Demarcation line]] between [[German military administration in occupied France during World War II|occupied France]] and [[Vichy France]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* Lee, Hy-Sang Lee. (2001). ''North Korea: a Strange Socialist Fortress.'' Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. {{ISBN|978-0275969172}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/237388400  OCLC 237388400]
* Pak, Hŭi-gwŏn. (2000). ''The Law of the Sea and Northeast Asia: a Challenge for Cooperation.''  Boston: Kluwer Law International. {{ISBN|978-9041114075}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/154667938  OCLC 154667938]
* Van Dyke, Jon M., Mark J. Valencia and Jenny Miller Garmendia. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120309130908/http://www.law.hawaii.edu/sites/www.law.hawaii.edu/files/webFM/Faculty/N-SKoreaBoundary2003.pdf "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. {{ISBN|0-415-35074-3}}; [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55960798  OCLC 55960798]

{{Borders of North Korea}}

[[Category:Korean Demilitarized Zone]]
[[Category:North Korea–South Korea border]]
[[Category:Aftermath of the Korean War]]
[[Category:International borders]]