In 1953, the United Nations established the Korean Demilitarized
Zone (DMZ) separating the Republic of Korea in the south and the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the north. Besides
providing a political buffer, the DMZ evolved into an
opportunity to protect an environment that experienced little
human impact. Satellite imagery, however, reveals multiple burn
scars of varying ages. The burning, according to a report from
the United Nations Environment Programme, is probably related to
military surveillance operations in both countries. The fires
continued in 2003 despite an agreement that the two countries
made in 2001 to halt burning activities. The Enhanced Thematic
Mapper Plus sensor on NASA’s Landsat 7 satellite captured these
images of the DMZ on April 6, 2003 (top), and April 29, 2000
(bottom). These false-color images are made from a combination
of visible light and light human eyes can’t see. This
combination of light gives special prominence to burn scars. In
the image acquired in 2000, a pin