The activities within the Korean peninsula are starting to get shaky and fragile. The surrounding world is afraid and should be prepared for war. Just one month into 2016, North Korea tested a nuclear device on the border against South Korea. Except this, they also launched a satellite for missiles, fired multiple short-range missiles and in April 2016, North Korea managed to have their first successful launch of a submarine missile. Both nations have also been exchanging fire at the border (The DMZ).
|
north and south korea exchange fire at the border!
|
Interesting facts to know..
Escaping from north to southEvery year thousands of North Koreans are trying to escape from the North Korean dictatorship. Over the past 20 years, approximately only 25.000 managed to survive their escape. (Williamson, 2014)
If they get caught they might be executed or end up in prison camps. Many families that are fleeing together can also be separated and never see each other again. Please have a look at this interesting video below. It is about North Koreans who managed to escape the prison camps. |
The dmz
This is the so-called Demilitarized zone that has been separating North and South for over 6 decades. It is called to be one of the most tense and dangerous places on the planet. It is in fact anything but demilitarized since it is a heavily fortified border where both sides are ready for war any second. The DMZ is 250 km long and it has over 1 million landmines along it. (Healy, 2007)
|
propaganda war
It all began when two South Korean soldiers were patrolling on the border and got injured from mines. This made the South nation furious and they reloaded the batteries of loudspeakers on the border. These speakers has been inactivated for almost 11 years and they spit out propaganda, such as forbidden music and how "bad" the leader is. Besides this, both North and South Korea has been sending over big balloons with flyers of propaganda. (Hamilton, 2016)
|
Hamilton, K. (2016, January 19). North Korea’s propaganda was with Seoul is starting to get out of hand. Retrieved from https://news.vice.com
Healy, H. (2007) Koran demilitarized zone: peace and nature park. International Journal on World Peace, 24(2), 61-83.
Williamson, L. (2014, March 5). The North Korean defectors who want to return home. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com
Healy, H. (2007) Koran demilitarized zone: peace and nature park. International Journal on World Peace, 24(2), 61-83.
Williamson, L. (2014, March 5). The North Korean defectors who want to return home. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com
Sofie Kansmark