Military Demarcation Line (MDL)

The Boundary

The Korea "Demarcation Line" is a provisional military demarcation line.  The "military demarcation line" represents the partitioning of Korea  effected by the July 27, 1953 Panmunjeom Agreement ending the Korean hostilities. Approximately 148.5 miles long, the "demarcation line" follows a sinuous path over generally rugged terrain.  The eastern terminus of the line is situated on the coast of the Sea of Japan about 2.5 kilometers south of Koseong while the western terminus is located near the junction of the Imjin and Han rivers. It has been demarcated by 1,292 markers.  There is a demilitarized zone measuring two kilometers deep on each side of the line. Wire fences have been erected along both edges of the zone and these are patrolled, by the troops of the northern Korean regime and by the forces of the United Nations Command on their respective sides.  The MDL is marked every so many feet with these signs.  The photo on the left is what the sign looks like from the Southern side, written in both Korean (Hangul) and English.  The photo on the right is what the markers look like on the North side written in Korean and Chinese.

Background

Korea was virtually a colony of Japan from 1910 until the end of the second world war. As early as December 1, 1943 (the Cairo Declaration), the western allies pledged themselves to work for the future independence of Korea. This declaration was reiterated in the Potsdam Proclamation of July 26, 1945 which stated that "in due course" Korea would become "free and independent."

A purely military decision was made after the Russian entry into the Pacific war to effect the surrender of Japanese forces in Korea. Soviet military troops were to accept their surrender north of the parallel of 38º North and American troops to the south of this parallel. After this decision was carried out in September 1945, the 38th parallel became a de facto occupation zone boundary as the result of an arbitrary interpretation by the Soviet military authorities. In spite of many efforts by U.S. military and diplomatic circles to bring about a bilateral reunification of Korea, it became necessary in September 1947, as a result of continued Soviet tactics, to lay the question before the General Assembly of the United Nations. The U.N. created a Temporary Commission on Korea to observe and consult with the elected representatives of the Korean people to  facilitate the establishment of a national government. Unfortunately, the U.S.S.R. refused to cooperate with the Temporary Commission and it was denied entry into the Russian-administered "zone" north of the 38th parallel. Nevertheless, the U.N. endeavored to discharge its duties by overseeing elections in that part of Korea in which the Commission has access, i.e., south of the parallel. Elections were held on May 10, 1948 and the Republic of Korea was formally inaugurated on August 15, 1948.

At almost the same time, the Soviet authorities established on September 9, 1948 the so-called "Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea" in their zone of administration, thus perpetuating the division of Korea along the 38th parallel.  Ten days later the Soviet Foreign Office announced that all U.S.S.R. forces would be withdrawn from Korea by the end of December 1948. While U.S. forces were withdrawn shortly afterwards, a solution to the main problem of a divided Korea had not been found.

On June 25, 1950, the armed forces of the regime established in the north invaded the Republic of Korea. The United Nations condemned the invasion, ordered the withdrawal of the invading forces, and requested U.N. members to render every assistance to that end.  As a result, the United States authorized the use of American military forces to support the Republic and on July 7, the United Nations requested that the U.S. appoint a supreme U.N. military commander. Other member states sent troops to aid in the three year military action.  Eventually, truce talks were initiated leading to the Panmunjom agreement.