Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has visited the demilitarised zone dividing North and South Korea.
It was the first engagement of Mr Varadkar's programme of events in South Korea where he has travelled for a trade mission.
He has become the first Taoiseach to visit the demilitarised zone, or DMZ, in Panmunjom.
It comes a day before Mr Varadkar meets South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to discuss issues including security, peacekeeping and multilateralism.
The DMZ is a strip of no man's land that separates North and South Korea and is the most heavily fortified border in the world.
The Taoiseach was given a tour of the various checkpoints and buildings by United Nations military personnel.
At one point he was technically on North Korean soil, standing inside a conference building that sits directly on the border.
After the visit, Mr Varadkar described the experience as surreal.
"I have been to many warzones in the world but nothing like this. It is here 70 years, it is a piece of the Cold War that still exists.
"On one level, it is extraordinary that the UN, US and Koreans set this up in such a way that peace is maintained, that an accidental conflict doesn't start.
"But it is also really sad because this is a divided peninsula, Korean people divided between two states for 70 years and I am really sad that this is the case," he added.
Describing the global outlook as "increasingly uncertain", Mr Varadkar said he was keen to see first hand the impact of one of the longest-running "frozen" conflicts in the world.
"The demilitarised zone in Korea is a sobering reminder of the importance of multilateralism and peacekeeping," he said.
After his visit to the Demilitarised Zone, the Taoiseach described the experience as surreal. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/Z3klTo8ubr
— Brian O'Donovan (@BrianOD_News) November 2, 2023
Aside from security issues, the Taoiseach and President Yoon are expected to discuss climate change and sustainable development at their meeting tomorrow.
"It is also an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations as we celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and South Korea, as like-minded counties," Mr Varadkar said.
During his visit, the Taoiseach will also meet the heads of several Korean multinationals and representatives from the Irish community.
This evening, he is due to address a trade mission reception attended by Irish and Korean businesses.
Mr Varadkar has joined Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue, and Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris, who arrived in South Korea earlier this week.
The members of the Government delegation are attending a series of engagements aimed at boosting economic and educational ties with South Korea.
