Korean War : The Demilitarized Zone, 50 Years After the War

Swedish Colonel Ake Persson leaves the report of the meeting in the KPA (Korean People's Army) and CPV (Chinese People's Volunteers) boxes. The countries of the Neutral Members Supervisory Commission agreed in the Armistice Agreement that four neutral countries, Switzerland and Sweden for the South, Poland and Czekoslovakia for the North, should represent them on important issues. With the break up of the Warsaw pact countries, both were expelled by North Korea in 1995. However Poland is theoretically still a member. The Polish flag is still present on the conference table. Poland is not allowed in the North anymore, however the Poles come once or twice a year, but arrive from the South. During the Warsaw Pact days these inspection teams totaled almost 200, today they are a mere handful and have no direct contact with the North Koreans. (Photo by John van Hasselt/Sygma via Getty Images)