Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)
This past weekend Lana and I finally made it to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. The DMZ was established roughly along the 38th parallel at the end of the Korean War in 1953 and runs the entire width of the peninsula...155 miles. The DMZ is a 4km wide "zone" of land providing a 2km buffer on the north and south sides of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). Each buffer line is marked by a tall fence with barbed wire and observation posts every now and then to sound the alarm in case of an attack from the north.
The main sites we visted were the Joint Security Area (JSA), Dorasan Station and Tunnel 3. The JSA is where high level talks used to take place between Generals of North and South Korea. It has also been the location of a few fights over the years at tensions always are high. Even though it has become a well known tourist attraction, we could even feel the tension in the air while there. Directly across the MDL in the JFA is a well known North Korean building where a lone soldier stands at the top of a set of steps and peers through a set of binoculars every now and then. From the JSA the "Propaganda Village" can also be seen...a town built to make viewers think everything is just fine in the North when in reality people outside the military have it very tough. Dorasan Station is the northern most railway station in South Korea. The tracks actually connect the two countries, but is rarely used. For some, it is a symbol of hope that one day the North and South will be reunited. Towards the end of our trip we visited a Tunnel 3 or the Third Tunnel of Aggression. In all, 4 tunnels have been found crossing underneath the DMZ from the North. It wasn't found until 25 years after the war ended, so it's unknown how many soldiers actually crossed through before it was found.
Touring the DMZ again reminded me of why we still have so many American troops in South Korea. I personally don't think North Korea will attack merely because the leadership isn't willing to give up their control (they would because we'd crush them if a war broke out), but it's not worth gambling with the lives of the South Koreans until they are fully able to take care of themselves.
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The main sites we visted were the Joint Security Area (JSA), Dorasan Station and Tunnel 3. The JSA is where high level talks used to take place between Generals of North and South Korea. It has also been the location of a few fights over the years at tensions always are high. Even though it has become a well known tourist attraction, we could even feel the tension in the air while there. Directly across the MDL in the JFA is a well known North Korean building where a lone soldier stands at the top of a set of steps and peers through a set of binoculars every now and then. From the JSA the "Propaganda Village" can also be seen...a town built to make viewers think everything is just fine in the North when in reality people outside the military have it very tough. Dorasan Station is the northern most railway station in South Korea. The tracks actually connect the two countries, but is rarely used. For some, it is a symbol of hope that one day the North and South will be reunited. Towards the end of our trip we visited a Tunnel 3 or the Third Tunnel of Aggression. In all, 4 tunnels have been found crossing underneath the DMZ from the North. It wasn't found until 25 years after the war ended, so it's unknown how many soldiers actually crossed through before it was found.
Touring the DMZ again reminded me of why we still have so many American troops in South Korea. I personally don't think North Korea will attack merely because the leadership isn't willing to give up their control (they would because we'd crush them if a war broke out), but it's not worth gambling with the lives of the South Koreans until they are fully able to take care of themselves.
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