How did the Korean War establish the Demilitarized Zone?

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established as a direct result of the Korean War armistice, signed on July 27, 1953, by representatives of the United Nations Command, China, and North Korea.12

Following years of stalemate, negotiators agreed that the existing battle line—rather than the pre-war 38th parallel—would serve as the boundary between North and South Korea. To create a buffer, both sides agreed to pull their respective forces back 1.2 miles (2 km) from this line, resulting in a 2.5-mile (4-km) wide neutral zone.321

This zone stretches approximately 150 miles (240 km) across the peninsula, from the mouth of the Han River to the east coast. The "truce village" of P’anmunjŏm, where peace negotiations were held, is located within this area and has since served as a site for ongoing diplomatic conferences.32