Written by Maximus Hansen Edited by Rebecca Oxtot and Annika Lilja
Technically speaking, North and South Korea are still at war. On July 27, 1953, the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, and no further territorial gains have since been made by either side. That being said, no official peace treaty was signed, and occasional skirmishes have kept both countries armed to the teeth (Korean Armistice). In recent years, tensions have been on the rise due to North Korean leader Kim Jon Un’s bolstering of nuclear arms tests. It is not confirmed whether or not these nuclear missiles can reach the United States, but their maximum altitudes as seen in tests point to a “yes” (Arms Control).
Under pressure from China, the North has scaled back on its testing. Nonetheless, they have resorted to far stranger and disgusting methods of interacting with the South. In past months, South Korea has reported over 3,500 cases of North Korean balloons landing in various cities. These balloons contain cigarettes, toilet paper, plastic, and fertilizer, among other odd articles. Although non-lethal, these balloons have led to disruptions at Seoul-Incheon and Seoul-Gimpo Airports. Additionally, one balloon was linked to starting a fire on top of an apartment building in the capital (North Korea Trash Balloons). In response, South Korea has retaliated by installing speakers at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which blasts anti-North propaganda, as well as K-Pop Music, which is banned in the North (Anti Pyongyang Broadcasts).
In regards to the state of the DMZ, security has been increased on both sides. In July of 2023, US Army Private Travis King ran across the Military Demarcation Line while on a civilian tour of the DMZ. While King claims he did this due to “inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army,” it is believed he deserted due to the discovery of his assault on fellow soldiers as well as possession of child pornography. Having been returned to America by North Korea, King will face a military court in September of 2024 (Soldier Returned).
Since the incident, all tours of the Joint Security Area (JSA) of the DMZ have been halted, with tourists not being allowed past the 3rd North Korean invasion tunnel. This past August, North Korea has been hit with harsh flooding around the city of Sinuiju, the nation’s 7th largest metropolitan area (North Korea Floods). The South offered the North monetary aid and equipment for the rescue of civilians, but Kim’s administration rejected this offer.
As the years go by, North Korea and South Korea continue to grow further apart, both developmentally and economically. With minimal improvements in the countries’ relationships, the future of a Unified Korea remians bleak.
Sources:
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