I have previously posted about my trip to the DMZ, but during that time I didn't have any time putting all the interesting pictures which I took on this day, so I thought I should make a better explanation of this trip.
On paper South and north Korea are still in war with each other they have only signed an armistice agreement, where they agree on not shooting on each other The agreement has been violated some times during since 1953, when the agreement was signed, however any major battles have not taken place.
What is the DMZ (DeMilitarized Zone)? The DMZ is the area around the border of North- and South Korea where no heavy military equipment are allowed. Width of the DMZ area varies depending on where you look on the border, but it has an average width of 4 km (2,5 miles). The border is the most surveillanced and mined border in the world. Its purpose is to prevent any kind of escalation in the conflict. By not allowing heavy military equipment pointing at each other from a close distance you also decrease the chances of any unwanted attacks.
The fact that it is one of most fortified places in the world makes it a little ironic that tourists are allowed to go there. One thing should be clear, even though it is possible for tourists to go there it is still a very strict and very regulated process to go there. There are several different companies and trips on which you can go to but there is one place where you just have to go to if you are planing to go to the DMZ.
The must see place is called the Panmunjeom (판문점), it is the name of an area in the DMZ straight on the border (literally). It is also called the JSA (the Joint Security Area) and it is this place that is famous from some movies, it is here where negotiations sometimes are held between North- and South Korea, JSA is almost seen as a neutral place. Main thing on this part of DMZ is that you can actually see North Koreans close up and you can officially cross the border and go into North Korea (but just for some meters!).
How to?
So how did I managed to do this excursion?
It was very easy, it was actually one of the most comfortable sightseeing days on my trip because I booked it through a tourist agency. All tours must be booked through a tourist agency and there are many to choose from. I chose the whole DMZ excursion and the Panmunjeom travel pack (whole day trip) via the VIP travel tours they were very good and organized, price 134'000 Korean Won \ (123 American dollars $).
The tour
The tour was divided in two parts, the DMZ tour and the Panmunjeom tour. The DMZ tour is just a tour where I saw a tunnel, some old rifles, Korean war museum, the observation deck and one train station. It was the Panmunjeom tour that I really looked forward to!
Anyway I was very excited of going there even long before I came to Korea.
Stop 1
These pictures are from the first stop where we could see the freedom bridge and some war memorials etc.
Stop 2: The new train station
The Dorasan train station is the name of the train station that most likely be the first link train linkage between North- and South Korea, it can easily connected with the nearest North Korean station when unification will take place.
Notice that the station is already prepared for trains to depart to Pyeongyang (capital of North Korea) it's just the peace that is missing.
However on the roads there is only one option from the train station, to Seoul.
Stop 3: Observatory
The Dora observatory has a very good view point over the third largest city in North Korea, Kaesong.
Looking over the two Koreas
Fun to see in this picture are the two flagpoles to the right and to the left. The right one belongs to South Korea and left one to the North. The North Korean one is however much higher then the one in the South one, how come? Well the South Koreans started by building a 99 meters (324 foot) flagpole, the North Koreans responded by building a 160 meters (525 foot) tall flagpole. It is called the Kijŏng-dong and it is also the highest flagpole in the world.
Stop 4: Panmunjeom
Before entering the JSA (Joint Security Area) we had some information of what we were not allowed to do and we had to sign a contract, which basically meant that we are aware of that we are entering a hostile are and that it is very dangerous.
Arriving to the Panmunjeom. From here we could see the border up close, the border is literary in the centre of the blue buildings.
Here you can see the only North Korean which I saw during my whole trip! Can you find him?
The centre of this table is exactly where the border is going. So when the negotiations takes place the North Korean sits in South Korea, the South Koreans are sitting in North Korea and the conciliator haves one foot in North Korea and the other foot in South Korea.
It's not so often you see a picture take from inside North Korea on South Korea, right? Well here you have it!
This is the bridge of no return. After the armistice agrement was signed the captured North Korean soldiers got an option to stay in South Korea or to go to North Korea and never come back, it was on this place that they had to make the crucial decision.
The scene of the axe murder incident. In the seventies some Americans decided to cut down a three inside the Joing Security Area in order to get a better view on the field, these American soldiers got brutally killed with axes by North Korean soldiers. The three (which the later cut down) was standing right here.
On paper South and north Korea are still in war with each other they have only signed an armistice agreement, where they agree on not shooting on each other The agreement has been violated some times during since 1953, when the agreement was signed, however any major battles have not taken place.
What is the DMZ (DeMilitarized Zone)? The DMZ is the area around the border of North- and South Korea where no heavy military equipment are allowed. Width of the DMZ area varies depending on where you look on the border, but it has an average width of 4 km (2,5 miles). The border is the most surveillanced and mined border in the world. Its purpose is to prevent any kind of escalation in the conflict. By not allowing heavy military equipment pointing at each other from a close distance you also decrease the chances of any unwanted attacks.
The fact that it is one of most fortified places in the world makes it a little ironic that tourists are allowed to go there. One thing should be clear, even though it is possible for tourists to go there it is still a very strict and very regulated process to go there. There are several different companies and trips on which you can go to but there is one place where you just have to go to if you are planing to go to the DMZ.
The must see place is called the Panmunjeom (판문점), it is the name of an area in the DMZ straight on the border (literally). It is also called the JSA (the Joint Security Area) and it is this place that is famous from some movies, it is here where negotiations sometimes are held between North- and South Korea, JSA is almost seen as a neutral place. Main thing on this part of DMZ is that you can actually see North Koreans close up and you can officially cross the border and go into North Korea (but just for some meters!).
So how did I managed to do this excursion?
It was very easy, it was actually one of the most comfortable sightseeing days on my trip because I booked it through a tourist agency. All tours must be booked through a tourist agency and there are many to choose from. I chose the whole DMZ excursion and the Panmunjeom travel pack (whole day trip) via the VIP travel tours they were very good and organized, price 134'000 Korean Won \ (123 American dollars $).
The tour
The tour was divided in two parts, the DMZ tour and the Panmunjeom tour. The DMZ tour is just a tour where I saw a tunnel, some old rifles, Korean war museum, the observation deck and one train station. It was the Panmunjeom tour that I really looked forward to!
Anyway I was very excited of going there even long before I came to Korea.
VIP Tour agency picked me up in central Seoul and then we drove the 55 km (34 miles) to the DMZ area.
(Click on the pictures in order to make them bigger)Stop 1
These pictures are from the first stop where we could see the freedom bridge and some war memorials etc.
The Freedom bridge (임진각). This is one of few train connections between North- and South Korea. I could also look on an old and totally destroyed locomotive from the war.
Stop 2: The new train station
The Dorasan train station is the name of the train station that most likely be the first link train linkage between North- and South Korea, it can easily connected with the nearest North Korean station when unification will take place.
However on the roads there is only one option from the train station, to Seoul.
Stop 3: Observatory
The Dora observatory has a very good view point over the third largest city in North Korea, Kaesong.
Stop 4: Panmunjeom
Before entering the JSA (Joint Security Area) we had some information of what we were not allowed to do and we had to sign a contract, which basically meant that we are aware of that we are entering a hostile are and that it is very dangerous.
All South Korean soldiers are standing in a Taekwondo combat position.
When standing and looking on the blue buildings I took a look around and I was chocked to see the Swedish flag waving proudly to me... Where did it come from and what does it do there??? When the armistice agreement were signed both North- and South Korea chose two neutral countries which were going to act as concilitators during the peace talks, North Korea chose Poland and Theckoslovakia and South Korea chose Sweden and Switzerland. Their role is not so significant nowadays but Swedes and Swiss people are still stationed in the DMZ.
Stop 5: Bridge of no return and the axe murder scene
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