The DMZ

Ryan and I made a trip to the DMZ Tuesday, the 23rd of December. The DMZ stands for the Demilitarized Zone, a 2,000 meter area between North Korea and South Korea. This was a trip worth taking, and I recommend it to anyone that ventures this way! It was eerie having a North Korean soldier stare you down, all the while staring them down. The rules were strict - no communicating with the North Koreans in any way - no smiling, no gesturing, no winking, etc. A part of me feels sad for the North Koreans, knowing they have no freedom. I pray that one day this conflict may be resolved and Korea will either unite as one or live peacefully. Who knows, maybe I will live to see it all happen.

The stare-down between the ROK (Republic of Korea) Army and North Korean Army.

Is it appropriate to smile? Not so sure looking back...

A North Korean Soldier posted outside of the building. He stood there for a little while, then got a buddy, which you will see in the next picture.

Looking at you, looking at me. The North Korean Army takes pictures of the tourists from the ROK side and uses the images as propaganda. I could be famous there now - who knows.

Me - being goofy. Not sure this was appropriate either, but at least I had my back to the North Koreans.

Ryan with a ROK Soldier. All the ROK soldiers posted at the DMZ are 10th degree black belts in Tae Kwon Do. They mean business. The sunglasses are worn to "intimidate" the North Korean soldiers, but my theory is that they just don't want you to know where they're looking.

Korean War Memorial at the DMZ. At this point, we were surrounded by 3 sides of North Korea. Some of the landscape is pictured below.

Signs posted every 10 meters between North and South Korea warning people of crossing the country line. The sign includes English, Hangul (Korean), and Chosŏnmal (North Korean Language). No one should misunderstand the ramifications if lines are crossed. Mine fields are on either side of the signs.

A look into North Korea. The day was very foggy, so the pictures aren't very clear. I hope to go back, and maybe I'll have better luck with the weather.

Another peak into North Korea - the village of Kichong-dong or "Peace Village," as it was called by the North. United Nations Command troops called it "Propaganda Village" because over the years the North broad casted its propaganda from loud speakers located in the vicinity of the village. Although North Koreans work the fields by day, they are all removed from the area before dark and only a small custodial staff actually lives in Kichong-dong. All the lights go off at the same time every night. The North Koreans pay to light a ghost town. Interesting...and weird.

The Bridge of No Return - crossing this is also a big no-no.

This cross lights up every night in South Korea proclaiming religious freedom to the North Koreans.

Memorial for the August 18, 1976 ax murders by the North Koreans to ROK soldiers and American soldiers. A tree we being cut down by the ROK Army when the North Korean Army attacked and killed the soldiers with an ax. The tree was being chopped down to gain visual fields from one guard tower to the next on the South Korean side of the Military Demarcation Line. The North Koreans "justified" their actions by stating the tree had been planted by Kim Jong-il himself, and cutting the tree down was a dishonor to their leader.

Interesting websites with more information:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/dmz.htm

http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Culture/DMZ/dmz.cfm?subject=jsa