South Koreans: “Peace is what we need”

Cold War relic

North Korea was founded as a communist country with support from both the Soviet Union and China, but over the years North Korea’s government has shifted away from the tradition of Marx and Lenin. Now, Juche or “self-reliance” and a “military first” policy are the guiding principles of the Kim dynasty.

South Koreans: “Peace is what we need”

Families divided

The forced separation of the Korean people split up many families. More than six decades on, some of those connections are starting to fade. Still, there are more than 70,000 people waiting to take part in government-backed family reunions.

South Koreans: “Peace is what we need”

A legacy of human rights abuses

Observers, including the UN and Human Rights Watch, have roundly criticized North Korea for human rights abuses including mass imprisonment, murder and enslavement. But, North Korea claims its citizens “enjoy genuine human rights”. The reclusive country argues human rights exist for the good of the state and say the rights of the individual could never replace the rights of the collective.

South Koreans: “Peace is what we need”

Cut off from the world

In North Korea, all media is closely controlled and possessing foreign books and music or listening to broadcasts from across the border can result in prison sentences. People also have a skewed view of western culture - hamburgers were invented by Kim Jong Il in 2009.

South Koreans: “Peace is what we need”

A country suffering

While South Korea has turned itself into a technological superpower, North Korea’s government has struggled to supply its citizens with even basic foodstuffs. The UN estimates that more than a quarter of children under five show signs of chronic malnutrition.

South Koreans: “Peace is what we need”

Missed opportunities

Some had hoped that when western-educated Kim Jong Un took over in Pyongyang in 2011 it would usher in a new era in relations between the North and the South. But those hopes were soon dashed as Kim continued the restrictive policies of his father.

South Koreans: “Peace is what we need”

Hope for the future

But despite the continuing state of war, many of the South Koreans we spoke to expressed their hope that relations would get better one day. The best future for many would be a reunited Korea.

Author: Aaron Tilton

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The Korean bridge of no return

The border between South and North Korea has been closed and heavily militarized for 62 years. This sign marks the "bridge of no return", seen here seen from the South Korean side. Since the late 1990s, approximately 28,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea. More recently, both countries agreed to hold brief family reunions near the border.

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The long American-Mexican border

Disparagingly labelled the "tortilla wall" by Americans, walls and fences secure 1126 kilometers--a third of the actual border. With 18,500 officers are positioned along it, the border is one of the most-policed on the planet. Though many millions of Mexican citizens still travel to the United States to work and live as undocumented immigrants, a number estimated at 6.7 million in 2012.

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700 deportations per day

It's a border that causes endless political trouble and deep tensions. Beautiful moments of life happen right at the border, but this peaceful scene on the Mexican side of the border is deceiving: 700 people are forcibly deported back to Mexico each day. For those who spent years in the States, many have a hard time adjusting to their new home.

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Morocco-Spain: Poverty and golf courses

Economic worlds clash in the Spanish enclaves Melilla and Ceuta, bordering on Morocco. Seeking a future in rich Europe, refugees from all over Africa seek a way to request asylum in a European country. In search of a better future, many try to climb the fences. With an extensive series of fences and Morocco taking more of an active role, fewer scenes like this are taking place.

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Brazil-Bolivia: Better grow on the right side?

According to satellite images, the frontier of Brazil's deforestation is defined by the border to Bolivia. Legal and illegal deforestation made Brazil's Amazon forest cover decrease by 20 percent during the last half century. However, Bolivia is also considered a deforestation hotspot that scientist say needs more study.

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Haiti-Dominican Republic: One island, two worlds

Though both countries share one island, they couldn't hardly be more different: The Dominican Republic is a tourist paradise while Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. Striving for a better future, many people move to the DR. In 2015 the country strengthened immigration laws to encourage migrants to leave and around 40,000 Haitians have now returned to their country.

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Egypt-Israel: A tense peace

Desert on the one and dense population on the other, the border between Egypt and Israel divides a Muslim-majority from a Jewish-majority. A peace that has held for more than 30 years has been marred in recent years by violent border incidents, increased militarization and tense political exchanges. Israel finished building a fence on the border at the end of 2013.

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Three countries, one border

In some parts of the world, borders are not marked with patrols, fences and walls. This spot, marked by a three-sided stone, marks the borders of three countries: Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Part of the Schengen zone, free travel across these borders has only recently been limited due to the European refugee crisis.

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Pakistan-India: The 'Line of Control'

Since the first Indian-Pakistani war from 1947 to 1949, the Kashmir region has been divided by the "Line of Control" between a Pakistan-governed, Muslim majority and an Indian-governed, Buddhist and Hindu majority. The line hasn't stopped terrorist attacks meant to establish an Islamic Kashmir that killed an estimated 43,000 people since 1993.

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Western Sahara: The Moroccan Wall

Until 1976 Western Sahara was a Spanish colony. To stake a claim, the Moroccan king settled 350,000 people in Western Sahara. The local Saharawis started an independence movement called Polisario Front. The war split Western Sahara, with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic on one side and Moroccan held territory on the other. Down the middle runs a heavily militarized berm built into the sand.

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Israel-West Bank: Stone-cast conflict

Since 2002 controversial walls and fences were built that amounted to barriers stretching to more than 759 kilometers. In densely populated areas like this photo from Jerusalem, a high concrete wall nine meters high fortifies the border between Israel and the West Bank. In 2004, the International Court ruled that building a wall onto Palestinian areas is not compatible with international law.

Author: Gianna Grün