When it comes to the dividing line of the Korean Peninsula, many people's first reaction is the famous "line 38", thinking that it is the border between North Korea and South Korea, and has been used since the end of World War II until now. But in fact, Line 38 is not a permanent border between the two countries, but a temporary military demarcation. It has experienced war tossing and adjustments several times.
When World War II was about to end, in August 1945, Japan was about to surrender, and the United States and the Soviet Union had to discuss how to deal with the Korean Peninsula, a place occupied by Japan. At that time, the Soviet army had already advanced rapidly from the north. The United States was worried that it would not have a share, so it quickly proposed a demarcation plan. Two American officers, Dean Rusk and Charles Bonesteel, held a map in their office in Washington and chose the line 38 degrees north latitude because it roughly divided the peninsula into two parts with similar land area, to the Soviet Union in the north and the United States in the south. The Soviet Union quickly agreed, after all, they also wanted to take advantage of other places, such as trying to interfere in Hokkaido, Japan, but the United States did not agree.
This line is purely a dividing line of temporary surrender, with the purpose of allowing the Soviet and US troops to accept the surrender of the Japanese army respectively, without considering any geographical, cultural or economic factors. As a result, the Soviet army first arrived near Seoul, but retreated back to the north according to the agreement. The US army landed in Incheon and Busan in September.
After 1945, the situation on the Korean Peninsula became more and more complicated. The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union has begun, and neither side wants the other to occupy the peninsula. In 1948, the United States supported the establishment of South Korea, officially called the Republic of Korea. It was founded on August 15, and the capital Seoul is now Seoul. With the support of the Soviet Union, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established on September 9, the capital of Pyongyang. Both countries claim to be the legal government of the entire peninsula, so in their eyes, the 38th line is not a national border, but a temporary dividing line.
On June 25, 1950, the North Korean army marched southward and crossed the 38th line to invade South Korea. North Korea said that South Korea took action first, South Korea said that North Korea invaded first, and the mainstream international view is that North Korea launched the attack first. Anyway, the war broke out, and the North Korean army was in a strong momentum. It soon occupied Seoul and forced the South Korean army to the Busan area. The UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning North Korea and demanded that they retreat to the north of Line 38. The United States takes the lead in organizing the United Nations forces, mainly the U.S. military, supporting South Korea. In July, the U.S. military began to intervene. North Korea had the upper hand in the early days, but on September 15, the US military landed in Incheon, which was a turning point, cutting off North Korea's supply line.
At a moment when China saw that the situation was wrong and felt that it threatened its safety, it sent volunteer troops into North Korea on October 19. As soon as the Volunteer Army joined, the situation changed again. They launched a counterattack and pushed the United Nations forces back to the vicinity of Line 38 in November. In January 1951, the volunteers occupied Seoul, but the United Nations forces counterattacked again in March. The entire war was like this, and the two sides fought repeatedly near the 38th line, with huge casualties. US General MacArthur wanted to expand the war and even attack China, but President Truman disagreed and removed him on April 11. The negotiations started in Kaicheng on July 10, 1951, and later moved to Panmunjom, but they fought while talking and lasted for two years. During the war, countless casualties were killed and injured. The United States died nearly 40,000 people and more than 100,000 were injured. The Chinese Volunteer Army and North Korea also suffered great losses, and South Korea and the United Nations forces also paid the price.
Finally, on July 27, 1953, the tripartite signed an armistice agreement, including representatives of China, North Korea and the United Nations, and signed by the United States. The agreement stipulates that based on the actual contact line at that time, a military demarcation line will be drawn, and both sides will retreat 2 kilometers each to form a demilitarized zone with a width of 4 kilometers, with a total length of 248 kilometers. This is the current DMZ, the North Korea-South Korea demilitarized zone. The key is that this dividing line is not a strict 38 line, it has been adjusted based on the 38 line. The west part is located at Line 38 in the south, and the east part is located at Line 38 in the north. North Korea has many cities like Kaesong. It used to be in the south, but now it returns to the north, with a flatter land that is suitable for agriculture and development.
Now, DMZ has become one of the most heavily guarded places in the world, with troops stationed on both sides. Although the radio confrontation has eased a little in recent years, the mines and barbed wire are still there. In 2018, leaders from the north and south signed the Pyongyang Declaration, pledging to reduce risks, demolished some posts, cleared mines, and even connected roads. But after 2020, North Korea has said several times that the armistice agreement has expired. The name 38 line is also commonly used, but the actual boundary is called the military demarcation line or the ceasefire line.
The 38th line is a product of the Cold War, the result of the game between the United States and the Soviet Union, and small countries suffer in the middle. The division of the Korean Peninsula was not formed naturally, but was imposed by external forces. The war lasted for three years, and so many people died. In the end, the border was almost back to the origin, but after adjustment, North Korea got a good place like Kaicheng. But history is like this, temporary decisions often become long-term reality.
