Seoul , South Korea ( CNN ) -- The new commander of U.S. forces in Korea stood just feet away from North Korean soldiers on Friday . Just one day after Gen. James D. Thurman was installed as the head of the United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea , he visited the border between North and South Korea . That area , better known as the DMZ , or Demilitarized Zone , is somewhat ironically named , considering it may be one of the most heavily fortified areas in the world . As Thurman arrived at the truce village of Panmunjom and entered the building where the armistice that ended the Korean War was signed in 1953 , North Korean soldiers , some with binoculars , watched through the windows from their side of the border , behind a simple concrete threshold . They also took photographs -- the usual North Korean response to VIPs visiting the area . Standing at an observation post overlooking North Korea , the general said , `` I thought it very important that I come to the DMZ to observe first-hand the readiness levels and the training and the leadership of the ROK ( Republic of Korea ) military and U.S. participation so I have a better understanding of the mission . '' U.S. and South Korean soldiers briefed Thurman on the security situation there . When asked to characterize the current North Korean threat , Thurman said it was important `` to maintain the deterrence '' but also expressed hope the threat would diminish some day . Despite the armistice signing , North and South Korea have been technically at war since 1950 , and recent attempts at peace talks have repeatedly failed . Tensions have remained high on the peninsula since North Korea carried out two attacks on the South last year , killing 50 South Koreans .
Gen. James D. Thurman is the new commander of U.S. and U.N. forces in Korea . Thurman visited the DMZ , the tense border between North and South Korea , on Friday . North Korean soldiers stood just feet away from Thurman , watching him and taking pictures . Despite a 1953 armistice , the two Koreas have technically been at war since 1950 .