How did the Korean Demilitarized Zone form?

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established following the Korean War to serve as a buffer between North Korea and South Korea. While the 38th parallel had served as a temporary administrative boundary since 1945, the war resulted in a stalemate that necessitated a formal cease-fire line.1

On July 27, 1953, representatives from the United Nations Command, the Chinese forces, and the North Korean military signed an armistice agreement. To create the demilitarized zone, both sides pulled their forces back 1.2 miles (2 km) from the established demarcation line, resulting in a 2.5-mile (4-km) wide neutral strip.21

Spanning approximately 150 miles (240 km) across the peninsula, the DMZ remains one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world. It includes the "truce village" of P’anmunjŏm, which has served as a site for ongoing diplomatic discussions since the war's end.1