Demilitarized zone

"DMZ" redirects here. For other uses, see DMZ (disambiguation).

A demilitarized zone, DMZ or DZ[1] is an area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities or personnel. A DMZ often lies along an established frontier or boundary between two or more military powers or alliances. A DMZ may sometimes form a de facto international border—for example, the 38th parallel between North and South Korea. Other examples of demilitarized zones are a 120-mile (190 km) area between Iraq and Kuwait, Antarctica (preserved for scientific exploration and study) and outer space (space more than 100 miles (160 km) from the earth's surface).

Many demilitarized zones are considered neutral territory because neither side is allowed to control it, even for non-combat administration. Some zones remain demilitarized after an agreement has awarded control to a state which (under the DMZ terms) had originally ceded its right to maintain military forces in the disputed territory. It is also possible for powers to agree on the demilitarization of a zone without formally settling their respective territorial claims, enabling the dispute to be resolved by peaceful means such as diplomatic dialogue or an international court.

Several demilitarized zones have also unintentionally become wildlife preserves because their land is unsafe for construction or less exposed to human disturbances (including hunting). Examples include the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone, and the Green Line in Cyprus.

Current demilitarized zones

Former demilitarized zones

Old map of the Gibraltar peninsula
Historical map of the promontory of Gibraltar.

See also

References

  1. Oren, Michael (June 3, 2003). Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East. Presidio Press. p. 7. ISBN 0345461924.
  2. Treaty of Lausanne, art. 13
  3. Antarctic Treaty (1959), art. 1
  4. Korean Armistice Agreement (1953), art. 1
  5. Request for Interpretation of the Judgment of 15 June 1962 in the Case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear (Cambodia v. Thailand) (2011). International Court of Justice.
  6. "Sudan agrees demilitarised zone for north-south border". BBC. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  7. Amir Ahmed and Greg Botelho (9 March 2013). "Sudan, South Sudan agree to pull troops from demilitarized zone". CNN. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  8. map

External links

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