Historically and politically, the demilitarized zone (and the 38^th parallel) sets South Korea and North Korea apart from any other country. Since the union of the Germanys, South Korea and North Korea are now the only divided nations in the world. Hundreds of soldiers stand rigidly along the border at hand in case of another conflict. The DMZ is approximately 248 km long and 4 km wide and almost cuts the Korean peninsula in half. It was made on July 27, 1953. A Military Demarcation Line (MDL) is exactly in the middle of the DMZ to mark where the front was when the agreement was signed. For a long time, no North or South Korea could cross the MDL. Recently, the two countries have strived to make new ties. There are a few heavily guarded railways that let people cross the border. These people are studied carefully before, during, and after their visit across the DMZ. In the past few Olympics events, South Korea and North Korea have marched out united as one Korea.