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PANMUNJOM: THE JOINT SECURITY AREA
Among the provisions of the Armistice Agreement signed July 27, 1953, to bring a cease-fire in the Korean War (the war was never officially ended by victory or defeat), was establishment of the Military Armistice Commission, an agency to supervise implementation of the truce terms. Meetings of MAC representatives from the United Nations Command and the Korean People's Army/Chinese People's Volunteers are held at the Joint Security Area, an 800 meter-wide enclave, roughly circular in shape, that bisects the Military Demarcation Line separating South and North Korea.
The JSA is often called the "Truce Village," but is best known worldwide as Panmunjom, a village which was destroyed in the war but gained lasting fame as the site where the Armistice Agreement was negotiated, even though it was actually signed by the opposing commanders, General Mark W. Clark, Commander- in-Chief, UNC, at Munsan south of the DMZ and by Marshal Kim Il Sung, KPA Supreme Commander, and Peng Teh-huai, Commander, CPV, at Kaesong in the north.
The major buildings in the JSA are set squarely on the MDL, which bisects the center of a green-felt-covered conference table inside the MAC Conference Room. Since the Commission headquarters of each side is located outside the conference area -- in Seoul for the UNC and in Kaesong for the KPA/CPV -- both sides maintain a Joint Duty Office at the JSA to provide continuous liaison. The JDOs meet to pass communications from the senior member or secretary of their sides.
Military Police of both sides provide security for the JSA with guard forces of no more than 35 security personnel on duty at any given time. The administrative facilities for both guard forces are located within the JSA.
Also found in the JSA are the offices and conference room for the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission. The 1953 Armistice established the NNSC as an independent, fact-finding body outside the authority of, but reporting to, the Military Armistice Commission. Originally it was composed of senior officers from four nations -- which did not have combatant forces in the Korean War -- two of whom are selected by each side. Sweden and Switzerland were nominated by the United Nations Command; Czechoslovakia and Poland by the KPA/CPV. The Czech component was forced out by the DPRK early in 1993. The Polish component was forced out by the DPRK early in 1995. The NNSC members are assisted by administrative personnel from their own countries. Camps for the Swedish and Swiss members and their staffs are located in the southern half of the DMZ adjacent to the JSA. The former Polish and Czech camps which were located nearby on the north Korean side of the MDL, have been taken over by the KPA and are now used for other purposes.
Military and civilian guests are permitted to visit the JSA as guests of the respective sides. Currently, the UNC sponsors nearly 100,000 visitors each year, most of them tourists who come on visits arranged by the Korea Tourist Bureau or military personnel whose visit is encouraged to ensure their better understanding of the situation in Korea. The KPA/CPV also bring guests, but these number less than 10,000 annually.
(Current as of January 2000)
Legend:
UNC- United Nations Command
JSA- Joint Security Area
JDO- Joint Duty Office
MDL- Military Demarcation Line
KPA- Korean People's Army
CPV- Chinese People's Volunteers
DPRK- Democratic People's Republic of Korea
NNSC- Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission
DMZ- Demilitarized Zone
Pyongyang- Capitol of North Korea
Seoul- Capitol of South Korea