DMZ

Sue and I took a tour to the DMZ (DeMilitarized Zone between South and North Korea) this past weekend. [Note: this entry has been post-dated] The tour that's run by the USO was full, so we had to go with a Korean tour company. We got up early and took the subway to the bus pickup location. From there, it was a not-too-long bus ride north. The first stop was an observatory.

View of North Korea in the distance. Pictures must be taken from behind a line which is maybe twenty or so feet from the railing:

The next stop was to the Third Tunnel. South Korea has discovered four tunnels so far dug by North Korea burrowing through the granite under the border. These were discovered based on information from defectors from the North. We weren't allowed to take any pictures there unfortunately. Besides the actual UN Joint Security Area (later in this post), I think the 3rd Tunnel was the most interesting site.

We also made a stop at this railroad station. This is going to be the last stop in South Korea on a train line that they hope will eventually open to connect the North and the South.

Army guards in the train station. These poor guys just have to stand there while tourists keep marching up to them to get their pictures taken with them. The guy on the right is just adjusting his helmet, but I like to pretend that it's his reaction to having to put up with all of the tourists.

Next stop: the bridge of freedom. This is supposed to be where they did a whole bunch of prisoner exchanges between the North and the South.

View of the bridge.

The end of the bridge is all fenced off. Lots of people leave flags, notes to loved ones, etc. here.

A view of barbed wire, fencing, and a guard post in the background.

Right outside where they had the Bridge of Freedom, there was this small amusement park-like area. This seemed really out of place in such a solemn site, but I guess you gotta keep the kids entertained while the parents go do more serious things.

After some lunch at a Korean Restaurant, we made our way to the official UN JSA (Joint Security Area) of the DMZ. This area is jointly patrolled by North Korea and the UN (which includes the South). After the orientation talk (in Powerpoint!), our group went into the main JSA accompanied by a US soldier from Florida (but officially serving for the UN). We got to go into the Military Armistice Commission (MAC) building where they have the official talks between the North and the South. This building actually straddles the border, and so you can enter a tiny bit of North Korea while inside.

View from the MAC. Left side is South Korea, right side is the North.

My feet with one in the South (left) and one in the North (right).

North Korean guard tower.

Gigantic tower with gigantic North Korea flag. The town below is a "propaganda village" which is supposedly only occupied by guards and loud speakers that blare North Korean propaganda (we were too far away to hear any though).

That pretty much rounded up the trip. Definitely worthwhile for anyone who happens to end up this direction. If you plan on taking a tour, make sure to book your reservations early.