DMZ

A couple weeks ago, I went to the DMZ (DeMilitarized Zone). This is the middle ground where the cease fire was reached. Supposedly it runs along the 38th parallel, but the map says otherwise. The DMZ is an area approximately 1/2 mile to 1 mile wide running East to West across Korea, separating it into North and South halves. When the agreement was reached, both sides had to withdrawl their troops back from the last point of contact. This created a neutral zone in which was neither North Korea or South Korea. Supposedly, no military is allowed in this area, but on my tour they brought us to an area in which the 2 sides are separated by a 6 inch sidewalk curb and the building where the agreement was signed. Both sides give tour thru this building. No other tours could come this far, only USO tours. We had to go thru briefings with the US Army and the United Nations. Since the cease fire, 60 people have died here in confrontations. This are that I went to was neutral ground where BOTH armies occupied and had guard shacks. The US Army cut down a tree in this area that was obstructing the view between 2 of our own guardshacks, when a squad of North Koreans came over and brutally axe murdered the 3 soldiers (see picture below) This doesn't get any cooler than this!!

Also on this tour, we were taken into one of four tunnels that the North Koreans dug underground to attempt to re-attack. These tunnels were found after the cease fire. The most recent was found in the 1990's! These tunnels are only about 5 1/2 to 6 feet tall, but can hold tens of thousands of troops. One comes darn close to Seoul. The Army admits that if these hadn't been found, the North could have and would have been able to destroy the south. It wasn't that great of a tour but it was awesome to be UNDER the DMZ!!

Unfortunately, I didn't have time to snap a pic of the most dangerous golf course in the world. At the DMZ they have a golf course that is full of land mines and is widely know as the most dangerous golf course in the world!

This is the building that was built to reunite familes that were separated during the war and cease fire.

The blue building that everyone is going into is where the cease fire was signed. The large building in the background is in North Korea. We were under strict orders to not stop on the road between where I took this picture and inside the blue building. We also could not point, gesture or attempt any communication between us and the north.

This is how they stand to guard the building while we are in there. The North Koreans give tours thru the same blue building. No communication is done to coordinate the tours; first come, first served. When we are done, our guards retreat and the north sends in their guards for their tour.

This is the guy from Australia that I ate lunch with. He's pretty cool!

This is a North Korean. He was the only one that was outside but you could see others that would peek out of the windows.

This is the cement divider between the blue buildings. When outside, no one is allowed to cross that line! Inside, however, I did!

This is the table where the cease fire was signed. The guard in the background is making sure that no one crosses into North Korea as they will be shot instantly by the north. We are not allowed to stand next to him or behind him as he has to be alert incase the door opens behind him!!

This is the table where the cease fire was signed. That's right, I'm right on the line!

This is the marker where the tree stood and where the US Soldiers were axe murdered while trying to cut down the tree. 60 people have died (a couple at a time) in this general area since the cease fire. This is as real as it gets! We got to look our enemies in the eye!