How good is demilitarisation - part 2 - the flag pole wars

Since the 1980s both sides have engaged in flag pole oneupmanship, with each adding height to the flag poles that dominate each side of the DMZ. The North are winning with the 4th biggest flag pole in the world. It requires a flag so big they have to bring it down in high wind or rain for fear the sheer weight of it will damage the pole structure. Which rather seems to defeat the purpose.

Both sides engage in propaganda wars, although we would probably sympathise more with the South who have been our allies since the war, there is no doubt the ROK see the importance of ‘selling’ their story: the village on the south side is called the Freedom Village but the name they give the corresponding village on the north is the Propaganda Village. It is true the village immediately over the border in the north is fake, there is plenty of independent evidence the village buildings are just empty shells and that the lights that come on at night are on a timer. Occasionally North Korean soldiers come to the village and pretend to be villagers.

But the Freedom Village is eerie and not quite right either: residents number around 200 villagers and are restricted to those who have historic connections to the area. As enticements to live in the village they are provided 7 hectares or fertile farming land from which they earn a much greater income then the average farmer, they are also exempt from military service and taxes. In return their lives are highly restricted. They farm under armed guard - ostensibly to protect them but you wonder to what extent it is to monitor any inappropriate interaction with the north. They have subject to curfews and at night the military conduct a head count of the villagers. Any visitors must give two weeks notice of their visit and are escorted by the military during their visit. The villagers are also restricted in the extent to which they can leave the Freedom Village: overall it really does beg the question as the amount of ‘freedom’ for the villagers.

 Imagine farming in the below field overlooked by this guardhouse.

One positive of the DMZ is that by leaving the countryside undisturbed by progress and urbanisation wildlife has had a chance to recover. The deforestation and clearing for agriculture prevalent on the rest of the peninsula has been halted in the DMZ and now wildlife and plant life are returning and the ecosystem flourishes. Manchurian cranes are plentiful and mammals such as the Asiatic bear, musk deer and spotted seals are part of the new biodiversity, despite the presence of land mines throughout the DMZ. 300 species of mushroom alone can be found. Should reunification ever occur there are calls for the DMZ to be retained as permanently protected area.

Looking into North Korea from the JSA

The border of the DMZ