The armistice of 1953 gave stipulation that the 4km wide DMZ would allow just two cities to remain inside its border: Kijong on the North and Taeseong on the South. Both towns are 1.8 km apart (1.1 miles).Kijong, known as Peace Village (평화촌) by the North Koreans, and "Propaganda Village" by the rest of the free world, is situated on the North side of the DMZ. According to Pyeongyang, the village consists of an elite collective farm system, a childcare center, schools and a hospital. However, observation by the South suggests that the town is actually uninhabited.
The buildings are concrete shells lacking window glass or interior rooms. The lights for the entire complex are turned on and off at set times and the empty sidewalks and streets are maintained by a small crew of caretakers. They also raise and lower the 600 pound North Korean flag on the world's tallest flag tower, 525 feet.
Until 2004, loudspeakers in Kijong broadcasted North Korean propaganda and patriotic music 20 hours a day.
