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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24-- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday proposed transforming the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas into an international peace zone. "Today ... I would like to propose to the United Nations and all the member states the idea of transforming the DMZ that cuts across the midriff of the Korean Peninsula into an international peace zone," Moon told the UN General Assembly General Debate. "The DMZ is a colossal green zone that stretches 250 km from east to west and 4 km from north to south. Its borders define a tragedy spawned by 70 years of military confrontation. But paradoxically, it has become a pristine ecological treasure trove," he said. "It has also become a symbolic space steeped in history, which embraces both the tragedy of division as embodied by the Joint Security Area, guard posts and barbed-wire fences as well as the yearning for peace." "The DMZ is the common heritage of humankind and its value must be shared with the whole world. Once peace is established between the two Koreas, I will work together with North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK) to inscribe the DMZ as a UNESCO World Heritage Site," said Moon. He put forward the idea of designating the area connecting the border village of Panmunjom and Kaesong in the North as a peace and cooperation district, and making the DMZ a center for research on peace, peacekeeping, arms control and trust-building. | 
