Possible ways to protect DMZ ecosystem

With President Moon highlighting the importance of sustainable development during his speech at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019,... more creative approaches are anticipated for the Demilitarized Zone. Our Choi Jeong-yoon went to see international and domestic experts to find out how we can preserve the DMZ.
While the Demilitarized Zone has served as a buffer between South and North Korea following the Korean War in 1953, environmentalists say that this is one of the few places on earth untouched by recent human development, and that it can be gifted to future generations.

Some experts claim that the international community, through bodies such as UNESCO, should co-govern the DMZ alongside the two Koreas.

"It seems quite logical to work with the mechanism with UNESCO in Paris to set up a working group people from both sides, North and South Korea and international support group to consider the possibilities of advancing the demilitarized zone to a peace and life zone."

He added that the DMZ can become a global symbol of peace and ‘Earth Trusteeship’,... the idea that nature exists for itself and cannot be owned by single person or country.

Efforts have been taken in the South to better promote the symbol of peace and ecosystem of the DMZ internationally, creating the so called ‘Peace trail’ and listing the southern half of the DMZ as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

However, experts say these efforts must be done in cooperation with the North.

At a four-day DMZ fair held earlier last week in the city of Goyang in Gyeonggi-do Province,... experts and citizens gathered to share the DMZ’s ecological values.

"“It is important to reach a consensus with the North on proceeding with the registration of the DMZ as a piece of world heritage. While waiting for the North’s answer, we must work with the international community to set grounds for practical preparations in listing the area as a cultural and natural world heritage site.”

But, the North has shown little to no sign of coming onboard,...rejecting Seoul’s proposal of establishing ecological parks in the past.

As inter-Korean cooperation is necessary for the next chapterof the DMZ's life, its fate will depend on how denuclearization talks and sanctions relief unfold.
Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.