Even with such a fearsome concentration of firepower on both sides and untold amounts of unexploded ordnance underneath, the Korean DMZ is probably one of the less risky stop-off points in Mairead Maguire’s long journey as a peace campaigner.

Now back in Northern Ireland, the honorary co-chair of WomenCross DMZ can add North Korea to a list of hot spots that includes Afghanistan, Iran, the West Bank and Syria.

“We were very grateful to the South Korean peace activists and the women’s organizations in the North of Korea that they hosted us,” she said.

“We were privileged in that we