Last weekend I went to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). The DMZ is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea and runs along the 38th parallel north. Tours are offered that take us into the war zone.
We started at the USO office at Camp Kim, in Seoul, then went to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel. This is one of 4 tunnels that was dug under the DMZ by the North Koreans and was discovered on October 17, 1978. We were able to walk into the tunnel, but no photos were allowed. In the same area, there was a small DMZ museum.
Next was the Dora Observatory and the Dorasan Station. From the observatory, we were able to look into North Korea. Photos were allowed, but they could only be taken from a certain place. Dorasan Station is a train station which once connected North and South Korea. Though not in use, it has been restored and there is hope that it may be used again in the future.
The final stop was the Joint Security Area (JSA), located in Panmunjeom and is the only connection between North and South Korea. While there, I was able to set foot in North Korea while I was in one of the United Nations buildings that crosses the border. There were several military people standing guard while we were there. And, when we looked across to North Korea, there was also a guard watching us.
The entire time we were in the bus in the DMZ area, I felt like I was in a MASH episode. So glad there wasn't a chicken on the bus.
We started at the USO office at Camp Kim, in Seoul, then went to the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel. This is one of 4 tunnels that was dug under the DMZ by the North Koreans and was discovered on October 17, 1978. We were able to walk into the tunnel, but no photos were allowed. In the same area, there was a small DMZ museum.
Next was the Dora Observatory and the Dorasan Station. From the observatory, we were able to look into North Korea. Photos were allowed, but they could only be taken from a certain place. Dorasan Station is a train station which once connected North and South Korea. Though not in use, it has been restored and there is hope that it may be used again in the future.
The final stop was the Joint Security Area (JSA), located in Panmunjeom and is the only connection between North and South Korea. While there, I was able to set foot in North Korea while I was in one of the United Nations buildings that crosses the border. There were several military people standing guard while we were there. And, when we looked across to North Korea, there was also a guard watching us.
The entire time we were in the bus in the DMZ area, I felt like I was in a MASH episode. So glad there wasn't a chicken on the bus.
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