Four kilometers separate a nation controlled by fear and manipulation from one of freedom and diplomacy.  This border, known as the demilitarized zone or the DMZ, acts as a neutral barrier between North and South Korea until three landmines planted by North Korea detonated and harmed the patrolling South Koreans in early August.

Tensions between North and South Korea have not run this high since 2010, when the North Koreans sank a South Korean warship.  South Korea responded not with violence or threat of war, but with pop music and pro-democracy propaganda just loud enough to be heard by its northern counterpart.

The Youth Leadership Program (YLP), a subunit of the Mayor’s Youth Council, studied the mechanics of Little Rock and relations with its sister city, Seoul, South Korea, throughout the summer.  In early August, members of the YLP traveled across the world to Seoul to learn more about South Korean relations.  Senior Rachel Marcks, a member of the YLP, share some of her personal experience in the country with the Tiger:

“There really weren’t that many signs of North Korean influence in South Korea,” Rachel said, “but they know about North Korea and US tension.”

Rachel noted that South Koreans are far less concerned about North Korea than we are in the United States.

“They don’t even have drills,” Rachel said. “The whole city is very safe.”

Rachel said that the only time North Korea was mentioned during her visit was via public broadcast in the city.

“There was a video of Trump talking about attacking North Korea immediately,” Rachel said, “and South Korea is more worried about what the United States might do to cause North Korea to retaliate.”

Although there is little communication between North and South Korea, relations between the countries are likely to change in the next year, especially since North Korea demonstrated in July that it can launch an intercontinental ballistic missile.  The US, however, will remain one of South Korea’s “closest allies and greatest friends” in the words of former president Barack Obama, and for the time being, South Koreans and visitors are free to enjoy all that the country has to offer without fear.