Separating North and South Korea is a buffer region, two kilometres on either side, known around the world as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The DMZ is the world's most heavily armed region as no peace treaty has ever been signed by the warring nations. Nearly one million North Korean troops, 650,000 South Korean troops and 37,000 US soldiers of the US Amry 2nd Infantry Division are stationed near the DMZ. Within the DMZ a small conference area known as the United Nations/North Korean Joint Security Area (JSA) or Panmunjeom Truce Village, straddles the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) or boundry between the two nations. Here the soldiers of the North Korean Peoples Army (KPA), the Chinese Volunteer Army (CVA), Republic of Korea (ROK) and the soldiers of the US 2nd Infantry Division face off day to day, often only meters apart. Even though the JSA is a place to maintain peace, it is a hostile and dangerous section of land as here soldiers of both nations stand so close together.

Civilians may only enter with US military or ROK military authorization or on official tours through the US Army.