DMZ

Perhaps the most infamous spot in the world today is what is called the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)that separates North and South Korea. Located along the 38th parallel, this region was constructed nearly 70 years ago as part of the cease fire agreement authored the countries involved in what has been called the Korean War. The United States, of course, was part of the group involved in the conflict and that helped orchestrate the end of armed hostilities. Interestingly, to this day, a formal peace treaty has never been signed. Thus, the cease fire agreement remains in effect and the DMZ continues to be guarded by soldiers on each side of the border.

Recently, I was able to visit this controversial site. I walked away from the experience feeling sad over how in this day-and-age leaders continue to be unable and/or unwilling to confront their differences, instead focus on their commonalities, and devise ways to co-exist without mindless acts of violence and terrorism. For some, peace continues to be an option they do not seem willing to explore. The DMZ represents such a reality, one in which whatever communicating that occurs is driven by short-sighted and self-directed vision. This runs counter to the notion that for positive collaboration to occur, then all parties must place mutual interest above self-interest.

One ray of hope I did take away from this visit revolved around a conference building that has been where delegations from both sides have met over the years. It is part of the tours that both sides give visitors. As one result of their ongoing disagreement, neither brings touring groups into the building at the same time. This, then, requires both sides to actually have to communicate in order to coordinate the schedules of their respective tour groups. At the risk of sounding unmindful of the complexities and difficulties of negotiations between enemy states, at least this shared conference building demonstrates the two sides actually can and do communicate and work together.