During the year 2018, North and South Korean leaders held multiple summits and have reshaped their relationship. Two Koreas are making great progress in reducing the tension and building a peaceful relationship between them.

For over seven decades, 북한 (North Korea) and 남한 (South Korea) maintained the 휴전선 (armistice line), which also refers to the 군사분계선 (military demarcation line). Instead of an 공식적인 (official) 평화조약 (peace treaty agreement), the 휴전협정 (Armistice Agreement) was signed on July 27, 1953, and this agreement resulted in a ceasefire status between North and South Koreas. The 공동경비구역 (Joint Security Area) used to be referred to as one of the scariest places on earth, because 군인 (soldiers) from two Koreas stood 대면 (face-to-face) with their 총기 (firearms).

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Through multiple summits between the North Korean 지도자 (leader) 김정은 (Kim Jung-un) and the South Korean 대통령 (President) 문재인 (Moon Jae-in), the two governments agreed to the changes in the area. After signing the 군사분야 합의서 (Comprehensive Military Agreement) on September 19, the two countries worked on 지뢰제거 (demining) in the 비무장지대 (Demilitarized Zone) and Joint Security Area (JSA), withdrawing 초소 (guard posts), and removing firearms. The JSA area will be controlled by the trilateral effort of two Koreas and the 유엔사령부 (United Nation command).

JSA has represented physical and symbolic 분단 (division) of the North and South Koreas for over seventy years. However, this area now symbolizes potential 평화 (peace) and 통일 (unification) of the two Koreas. The visit to the JSA is halted temporarily due to the installation of 감시장비 (surveillance equipment) and new guard posts. Many 민간인 (civilians) and 관광객 (tourists) are anticipated for the opening date to access this area and freely move around in the JSA in the near future.

감사합니다! (Thank you!)

***Related Vocabulary***

1. 북한   (North Korea)
2. 남한   (South Korea)
3. 휴전선   (armistice line)
4. 군사분계선   (military demarcation line)
5. 공식적인   (official)
6. 평화조약   (peace treaty agreement)
7. 휴전협정   (Armistice Agreement)
8. 공동경비구역   (Joint Security Area)
9. 군인   (solders)
10. 대면   (face-to-face)
11. 총기   (firearms)
12. 지도자   (leader)
13. 김정은   (Kim Jung-un)
14. 대통령   (President)
15. 문재인   (Moon Jae-in)
16. 군사분야합의서   (Comprehensive Military Agreement)
17. 지뢰제거   (demining)
18. 비무장지대   (Demilitarized Zone)
19. 초소   (guard posts)
20. 유엔사령부   (United Nation command)
21. 분단   (division)
22. 평화   (peace)
23. 통일   (unification)
24. 감시장비   (surveillance equipment)
25. 민간인   (civilians)
26. 관광객   (tourists)