Like all foreigners who visit Korea, a must see to do - the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is an area of land 4 kilometers-wide straddling the 151 mile long Military Demarcation Line. The opposing sides agreed under the Armistice Agreement from entering the territory, air space or contiguous waters under control of the other. Even though North Korea has committed violations at sea and in the air, and has infiltrated armed agents along South Korea’s extensive coastline and outlying islands, it is in and along the DMZ that most Armistice violations have occurred. Home to some 2 million soldiers, the DMZ is the world's most heavily fortified border.
The ROK soldiers facing the main North Korean building, Panmungak are in a Taikwondo stance that keeps them half hidden due to being openly exposed to gun fire as well as giving off an intimidating appearance to the North Korean soldiers.
Inside the DMZ, near the western coast of the peninsula, is a place called Panmunjeom, home of the Joint Security Area; it is the only place where North and South connect. A typical Panmunjeom tour can only be visited by foreigners, ie. non South Korean citizens.
ROK (Republic of Korea) solider
North Korean solider
U.S. (our guide) and ROK solider
"Bridge of No Return"
It was used for prisoner exchanges at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The name originates from the fact that prisoners were given the choice to remain in the country of their captivity or cross over to the other country. But if they chose to cross the bridge, they would never be allowed to return.
The lovely yellow line you have to stand behind to take pictures at the look-out point into North Korean borders. You really can't capture anything with the camera, but it's more fun watching people try!
UN troops call this Propaganda Village because only a small group of people cleaning and turning on lights use to reside within the village, now it is deserted. Although from afar it appears to be a modern village, one can tell with binoculars that there is no glass within the windows of the buildings. In the past, North Korean propaganda was sent out by loudspeaker across to Daeseong-dong for as much as 20 hours a day, and reciprocal pop music and South Korean exhortations blasted back. These broadcasts ceased by mutual agreement in 2004.
Our lovely USO bus full of silk flowers and oddities!
The lovely yellow line you have to stand behind to take pictures at the look-out point into North Korean borders. You really can't capture anything with the camera, but it's more fun watching people try! UN troops call this Propaganda Village because only a small group of people cleaning and turning on lights use to reside within the village, now it is deserted. Although from afar it appears to be a modern village, one can tell with binoculars that there is no glass within the windows of the buildings. In the past, North Korean propaganda was sent out by loudspeaker across to Daeseong-dong for as much as 20 hours a day, and reciprocal pop music and South Korean exhortations blasted back. These broadcasts ceased by mutual agreement in 2004.
Our lovely USO bus full of silk flowers and oddities!
Along with our tour, we got to visit the Third Tunnel of Aggression which was discovered in October of 1978. It is 1.7 km long, 2 m high and 2 m wide. It runs through bedrock at a depth of about 73 m below ground. It is apparently designed for a surprise attack on Seoul from North Korea, and can easily accommodate a full division per hour along with their weaponry. You get to wear a stylish hard helmet and walk the tunnel right up to the North Korean border (all underground of course!)
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