The DMZ - A symbol of ideological dispute between North and South Korea, winds 155 miles across the Korean Peninsula. Stretching from the Han River to the East Coast, it ranges 2 km north and south of the Military Demarcation Line, covering a vast region of 64 million sq ft. Devoid of people, rare plants and animals exist in an unnatural nature preserve. Peace and tension coexist on a daily basis.
These photos were taken on 24 Aug 2011
while on a Joint Security Area (JSA) Tour
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The following 7 images were recorded at Imjingak Resort Park
IMJINGAK, which became the representative unification and security tourist spotbecause of the painful history of the division and the Korean War, is located just 7km to the south of the Military Demarcation Line (DML). Besides the "Bridge of Freedom", which was named when 12,773 Korean prisoners of war returned from North Korea in 1953, there are attractions like the 21 ton Bell of Peace (shown below). This place is a unification and security tourist spot where people hope for unification and remember the pain of a divided land. 2,000,000 domestic people and foreigners visit here every year.
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The following two photos were taken on the grounds outside the "3rd Infiltration Tunnel".
Only 44 km from Seoul (less than an hour's drive), the third tunnel was discovered in Oct '78. Almost identical in structure to Tunnel 2, the 1.635 km-long tunnel is 1.95 meters high and 2.1 meters wide. It penetrated 435 meters south the DML at a point 4 km south of Panmunjeom, running through bedrock at a depth of about 73 meters below ground. Capable of moving a full division (plus their weapons) per hour. It was evidently designed for a suprise attack on Seoul. This tunnel is only 2 km from akey outpost defending the Munsan corridor leading to Seoul.
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The Dora Observatory
The Dora Observatory
The Dora Observatory is situated in Paju (Gyeonggi-do) and at the northernmost point of the DML.
From the observatory, visitors can overlook North Korea and it's various locations including Gaeseong, Songakson, KimIl-Sung Statue and Cooperation Farm (Geumamgol). It was opened to the public in January 1987.
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Note the North Korean Flag in the upper left corner and the South Korean Flag in the upper right.
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Dorasan (Dora Mountain) Station
Located at the northernmost end of South Korea which is 700m away from the southernmost tip of the DMZ. President Bush visited here on 20 Feb 2002. A special worshipping train was operated across the Imjin River on 12 Feb 2002 following the opening of Imjin River Station in Oct 2001, 51 years after the railroad was blocked. The guidepost at Dorasan indicates it is 205km from Pyeongyang (capital of N. Korea) and 56km to Seoul (capital of S. Korea). It takes 5 minutes to get from "Imjin River Station" to "Dorasan". However, it took 52 years for the Gyeongui Line to be restored to Dorasan which was a civilian restricted area.
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Joint Security Area (JSA)
Panmunjeom is only 800 meters in diameter. Designated as the JSA between the U.N. and North Korea, it is outside administartive control of South and North Korea. Since the ax murder incident on 18 August 1976, security guards are forbidden to cross over to the opposing side's area.
Joint Security Area (JSA)
Panmunjeom is only 800 meters in diameter. Designated as the JSA between the U.N. and North Korea, it is outside administartive control of South and North Korea. Since the ax murder incident on 18 August 1976, security guards are forbidden to cross over to the opposing side's area.
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This is the site of the 1976 tree trimming ax murders. At the bottom center of the picture you can see a cement block where the tree use to stand. Later in this album you'll see a better picture of this monument. You can also barely make out the start of "The Bridge of No Return" where the road leads to the right.
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The North Korean Flag flown at Propaganda Village. A fake city that use to broadcast propaganda, hence the name. The flag pole use to be 100ft tall. After the '88 summer Olympics in Seoul, S. Korea raised the South Korean Flag that had been flown at the Olympics on a flag pole measured at 100 ft. The N. Koreans then raised there flag to approximately 160
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The inscription on the Plaque (in English and Korean) reads: On this spot was located the yellow poplar tree which was the focal point of the ax murders of two United Nations Command officers, Captain Arthur Bonifas and First Lieutenant Mark Barrett, who were attacked and killed by North Korean guards while supervising a work party trimming the tree on 18 August 1976
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The Bridge of No Return. Located in the Joint Security Area (JSA), the so-called "Bridge of No Return" crosses the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) between North Korea and South Korea. It was used for prisoner exchanges at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The name originates from the claim that many war prisoners captured by the United States did not wish to return home. The prisoners were brought to the bridge and given the choice to remain in the country of their captivity or cross over to the other country. But if they chose to cross the bridge, they would never be allowed to return.
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A Bridge over Han River in Seoul. Coming back from visiting the DMZ.
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On the trip back from the DMZ, took this picture of the 63 Building in Seoul.
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