<P> The whole estuary of the Han River is deemed a "Neutral Zone" and is off - limits to all civilian vessels and is treated like the rest of the DMZ . Only military vessels are allowed within this neutral zone . </P> <P> According to the July 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement civil shipping was supposed to be permissible in the Han River estuary and allow Seoul to be connected to the Yellow Sea (West Sea) via the Han River . However, both Koreas and the UNC failed to make this happen . The South Korean government ordered the construction of the Ara Canal to finally connect Seoul to the Yellow Sea (West Sea), which was completed in 2012 . Seoul was effectively landlocked from the ocean until 2012 . The biggest limitation of the Ara Canal is it is too narrow to handle any vessels except small tourist boats and recreational boats, so Seoul still cannot receive large commercial ships or passenger ships in its port . </P> <P> In recent years Chinese fishing vessels have taken advantage of the tense situation in the Han River Estuary Neutral Zone and illegally fished in this area due to both the North Korean and South Korean navies never patrolling this area due to the fear of naval battles breaking out . This has led to firefights and sinkings of boats between Chinese fishermen and the South Korean Coast Guard . </P> <P> Within the DMZ itself, in the town of Cheorwon, is the old capital of the kingdom of Taebong (901--918), a regional upstart that became Goryeo, the dynasty that ruled a united Korea from 918 to 1392 . </P>

What does the dmz look like in korea