A heavily armed border still divides North and South Korea 70 years after the armistice

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North and South Korea remain separated by one of the world’s most heavily armed borders. It's a lasting reminder that the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the countries technically still at war.

More than seven decades after the conflict began, its scars and impact remain visible, not only by border area fortifications and war memorials, but also in the lives of separated families and survivors who continue to carry memories of loss and longing.

Although the fighting ended with the July 27, 1953, armistice agreement, the traces the war left behind serve as enduring reminders of the past, ensuring that history is not only remembered but passed onto future generations.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Korean War veterans are greeted after a ceremony to mark the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A sign indicating land mines is seen near the civilian control line in Cheorwon, South Korea, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Former North Korean Worker's Party building is seen near the civilian control line in Cheorwon, South Korea, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Anti-tank barriers are placed in a stream in Goyang, South Korea, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A South Korean man points a name of his brother who was killed in the Korean War in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean Jo Suk-hyun places flower at Korean War veterans memorial in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean student Min Woo-jin looks at monuments with the names of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Magnets showing the Korean peninsular are displayed outside a souvenir shop in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Ethiopian veteran of the Korean War, Tesfaye Asmamaw, 95, walks with South Korean minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Kwon Oh-eul, second from left, in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A bridge that was destroyed during the Korean War, is seen in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A visitor looks at her smartphone near the wire fence decorated with ribbons written with messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas and visitors' wish at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A symbolic structure remains to commemorate the removal of the military barbed-wire fence in Goyang, South Korea, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A North Korean flag, center top, flutters in the wind on North Korea's town, Kaepoong, as seen from the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Military barbed-wire fences are placed along the express road Jayuro, with a view of the landscape of Paju visible beyond them in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

People hold national flags after a ceremony to mark the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Korean War veterans attend during a ceremony to mark the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Tourists look at a steam train that was damaged during the Korean War, is displayed at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A visitor tours the exhibition hall of the Korean War at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has selected three uncapped players among 10 additions to his current squad for a four-test series against the Rugby World Cup champion Springboks starting next month.

Rennie has increased his Nations Championship squad of 34 players to 44 players for the tour which comprises three tests and four other matches in South Africa and one test in the United States. All 34 players who were part of New Zealand's Nations Championship squad — which won tests against France, Italy and Ireland — have been retained.

The new caps are Hurricanes prop Siale Lauaki, Moana Pasifika backrower Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa and Chiefs flyhalf Josh Jacomb.

The other additions to the squad are prop Ollie Norris, hooker George Bell, lock Fabian Holland, backrower Ethan Blackadder, centers Timoci Tavatavanawai and Rieko Ioane and winger Emoni Narawa.

The All Blacks' tour to South Africa marks a return to old-fashioned touring with weekend and midweek matches, which was the norm before the rugby union professional era began in 1995.

New Zealand will play the Stormers at Cape Town on Aug. 8, the Sharks at Durban on Aug. 12, the Bulls at Pretoria on Aug. 16 and the Lions at Johannesburg on Aug. 26 as well as tests against South Africa at Johannesburg on Aug. 23, at Cape Town on Aug. 30, at Johannesburg on Sept. 6 and in Baltimore on Sept. 13.

South Africa is ranked No. 1 and New Zealand is ranked No. 2 in the world, and the tour is being billed as reviving rugby's “greatest rivalry.”

“This tour will challenge us and demand the very best of us,” Rennie said. “We have selected a squad that we know is up to the challenge. It’s a balanced blend of experienced test players and a cohort of younger players who will be keen to work hard and showcase their skillset on tour.

“We are thrilled for those players who will have the opportunity to pull on the All Blacks jersey for the first time, and welcome back those who are returning to the group.”

The All Blacks have only once won a test series on a South Africa tour — in 1996 — after failed attempts in 1928, 1948, 1960, 1970 and 1976. The teams have met 110 times in tests with New Zealand winning 63, South Africa winning 43 and four being drawn.

“With eight matches in six weeks, including a four-test series against the Springboks, this would have to be the toughest tour in rugby,” Rennie said. “Every player will be required to play their part across this tour, whether it’s preparing to play or helping their mates prepare.

“It will be an intense seven weeks of touring but an excellent opportunity for us to pit ourselves against the current benchmark team in world rugby and to build connections with each other in a way that only a tour of this scale can do. What we learn about ourselves on and off-field will set us up well for the Rugby World Cup in 2027.”

Rennie said while Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks in the test matches, other captains are likely to be chosen for the “franchise matches.” Savea will not arrive in South Africa until just before the first test.

“Ardie has carried a massive workload in the last couple of years and we think it is best for him to have a break so he can come back ready to lead us into the test series,” Rennie said. “We have a number of excellent leaders in our squad who will embrace the chance to captain the side.”

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

New Zealand's Ardie Savea, center, splits Ireland's Jimmy O'Brien, second left, and Sam Prendergast to scores he's team's second try against Ireland during their Nations Championship rugby international test match in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Brett Phibbs/Photosport via AP)

New Zealand All Blacks perform the haka before their Nations Championship rugby international test match against Ireland in Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Craig Butland/Photosport via AP)