Today, Sam and I went to the DeMilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea. The DMZ, as well as the Joint Security Area (JSA), are in Panmunjeom, about 50 km north of Seoul.
At the JSA, just outside of Freedom Hall, South Korean soldiers stand at the border facing into North Korea.
The South Korean soldiers wear dark shades and are not allowed to show any emotions. As far as I know, this guy was comatose. The border literally splits the room down the middle...the soldier was standing in South Korea while I was right next to him, standing in North Korea.
On the other side of the border, a North Korean soldier stands at the top of some steps, occasionally looking at you through a pair of binoculars. You are not allowed to raise your hand or make any provocative gestures...or he might shoot you. No, seriously.
After seeing the JSA, we went to the "bridge of no return". After the end of the Korean war in 1953, prisoners of war on both sides were allowed to walk across the bridge into the country of their choice, never to return to the other side again. Also, apparently a dog tried to cross the border a few months ago but tripped a wire and exploded at the North Korean side of the bridge. I guess dogs really just have a shitty time in this country.
We went into the Third Infiltration Tunnel, one of four tunnels dug by the North Koreans after the seize fire was signed in 1953 in preparation for a sneak attack on Seoul. The tunnel is over 70 meters underground and extends 400 meters across the border into South Korea. I hit my head on the tunnel's ceiling at least 5 times, confirming the fact that I am taller than the average North Korean.
After lunch, we went to Dorasan Station, which at a time was the last train station in the South for trains headed to Pyeongyang, the Capitol of North Korea.
We ignored the rules and put North Korean stamps in our passports. So technically, I went to North Korea today. Here's to hoping it doesn't prevent me from successfully leaving the country on Thursday.
Location:Panmunjeom, Korea
After seeing the JSA, we went to the "bridge of no return". After the end of the Korean war in 1953, prisoners of war on both sides were allowed to walk across the bridge into the country of their choice, never to return to the other side again. Also, apparently a dog tried to cross the border a few months ago but tripped a wire and exploded at the North Korean side of the bridge. I guess dogs really just have a shitty time in this country.
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