The DMZ at Panmunjom

The Korean Demilitarized Zone, the strip that divides the Korean peninsula, is one of the most extraordinary frontiers on earth, and Panmunjom, the Joint Security Area, is its focal point. Here the famous pale-blue huts straddle the line drawn at the 1953 armistice, a place where the two Koreas meet metres apart. It is visited from the northern side as part of organised tours, in quiet countryside near the ancient city of Kaesong.

What's there

• The blue huts - the negotiation huts straddling the dividing line.
• The dividing line - the frontier drawn at the 1953 armistice.
• The Joint Security Area - the point where the two Koreas meet.
• The historic buildings - the halls linked to the armistice.

When to go

April to June and September to October bring the mildest, clearest weather for the visit, which takes place from the northern side as part of organised guided tours. Timing follows the tour calendar, with spring and autumn the most comfortable for the countryside setting near Kaesong.

Things to know

The DMZ is visited as part of a guided programme with a set route and briefing, so it is a controlled and sometimes brief experience rather than a place to linger freely.

Nearby

The historic city of Kaesong is usually visited on the same tour.