Legal Definitions - line of demarcation

A line of demarcation is a provisional border that separates territories under different jurisdictions. It is usually established when the political situation does not allow for a final boundary arrangement. This line helps to define the limits of each territory and prevent disputes between the parties involved.

• The Line of Demarcation was established in 1493 by the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal.
• During the Cold War, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea served as a line of demarcation between the two countries.

These examples illustrate how a line of demarcation can be used to separate territories under different jurisdictions. In the first example, the Line of Demarcation helped to divide the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal. In the second example, the DMZ served as a line of demarcation between North and South Korea, preventing conflicts between the two countries.