South & North Korea Drop the Ol’ Guard Posts — A Sort of “Peace‑Tape” Cut
On Sunday, November 11, the two Koreas decided to nix 20 guard posts along their heavily‑fortified border. Yep, 10 each side, leaving just one on either side of the frontier. Writers call it a “thin‑slice” of peace flavoring in a dish cooked in tension.
How the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Got a Lightbulb Moment
- South Korea kept about 60 guard posts along the rest of its border, while the North kept roughly 160.
- Now, both sides have moved those posts to safety and are stripping the DMZ of ballistic munition.
- Only 35 unarmed personnel from each side remain on either side of the Panmunjom joint security area.
What Happened Next?
After “pulling back” their troops and all the gear that came with them, the two military forces set about dismantling those 20 postings in a joint “peace patrol.” The operation has been labeled a diplomatic convenience sign to pull the tension out like an old vinyl record that’s no longer needed.
Why This Move Matters
- It marks a concrete step down the hostility ladder that exists almost a half century after the Korean War, a conflict that ended with a cease‑fire rather than a peace treaty.
- President Moon Jae‑in (who’s always opted for the “dove” route) has made “engagement” a signature of his foreign‑policy playbook.
- Kim Jong‑Un, guided by a view that a chill is a good thing, reportedly agreed to the plan during their third summit in September.
Other Tension‑Reducing Moves Sampler
- In June, Trump and Kim held a historic summit in Singapore and signed a vague deal on denuclearisation— although a lot of that remains contested.
- Recent talks between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Kim Yong Chol got delayed — perhaps the DMZ wasn’t the only place where the two sides are being flexible.
- Meanwhile, South Korea shipped 20,000 boxes of Jeju tangerines to Pyongyang via four C‑130 aircraft. Scent of citrus, plus a holiday of sweet diplomacy.
Despite the still-war status on paper, the new footsteps in the DMZ paint a picture of two former foes sniffing things out. For now, the border’s just a little less tense, and it’s hard not to feel like it’s finally a nice bit of peace where both sides can literally breathe.
