SWISS STRING QUARTET PERFORMS CLASSICAL CONCERT IN PANMUNJOM, 1998-10-20 (photo)

With a North Korean military guard tower looming ominously in the background, the world-renowned Carmina Quartet from Switzerland, and famed South Korean violoncellist Chung Myung-wha (on stage, 2nd R) perform classical music in the grounds of the Swiss Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission in the Panmunjom truce village October 20. This classical concert, the first ever concert to be held inside the heavily-defended demilitarized zone which seperates South Korea from its archfoe North Korea, was organised by Swiss Major General Peter Sutter, in the hopes that it would "send a mild message to both North and South that after 45 years of being a cold war frontier, it was time to end the almost non-stop propaganda broadcasts and look for ways to find a true and lasting peace." From left to right are Mathias Enderle, Susanne Frank, Wendy Champney, Chung Myung-wha and Stephen Goerner. PB/GB