Female peace activists make rare crossing of North-South Korea border

An international group of female activists, including Gloria Steinem and two Nobel Peace laureates, were denied an attempt to walk across the Demilitarized Zone dividing North and South Korea on Sunday, but were allowed to cross by bus and complete what one of them called a landmark event. The group made a final appeal to authorities on both sides to allow them to walk across the demarcation line, but were turned down. The North allowed a South Korean bus to cross the demarcation line to pick them up on the North side of the DMZ and transport them over the border to South Korea.

We feel very celebratory and positive that we have created a voyage across the DMZ in peace and reconciliation.

U.S. activist Gloria Steinem

The group of about 30 women represent 15 countries. The Koreas have remained divided since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The DMZ that divides them is one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world. Authorities on both sides said they could not guarantee the safety of the women had they walked across.

This is about human relationships, this is about us seeing our common humanity in each other.

Mairead Maguire, Northern Ireland peace activist and Nobel Laureate