The 38th parallel north—which cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half—was the original boundary between the US-occupied and Soviet-occupied areas of Korea at the end of World War II.The Buddist temples are at the top of many mountains and hills, including this hill which also has an observation deck to watch for the enemy.
A monument to the many soldiers who fought here. Many of these hills were also sites of intense battles.
The observation deck, with modern day defenders.
Upon the creation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, informally North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (ROK, informally South Korea) in 1948, it became a de facto international border and one of the most tense fronts in the Cold War.
We were briefed on the current situation.
We inspect the current status of an infiltration tunnel which the North Koreans had been building. We found no current activity in this tunnel, and were unable to share reconnaissance photos.
Who knows where they are building now?
Reunification is a dream, but be cautious, you may get caught in between.
Both the North and the South remained heavily dependent on their sponsor states from 1948 to the outbreak of the Korean War.
Rely on the army to protect.
The conflict, which claimed over three million lives and divided the Korean Peninsula along ideological lines, commenced on June 25, 1950, with a Soviet-sponsored DPRK invasion across the DMZ, and ended in 1953 after international intervention pushed the front of the war back to near the 38th parallel.
They divided us into two groups. Divide and conquer?
This raised block is the border between North and South Korea. If you cross over, you may never be heard from again.
In the ceasefire of July 27, 1953, the DMZ was created as each side agreed in the armistice to move their troops back 2,000 meters (2,200 yd) from the front line, creating a buffer zone 2.5 miles (4 km) wide.
We were allowed in this building which stradles the line. Mom and Shara are in South Korea, the other lady is in North Korea. I haven't seen her since.
A monument to the many soldiers who fought here. Many of these hills were also sites of intense battles.
The observation deck, with modern day defenders.Upon the creation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, informally North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (ROK, informally South Korea) in 1948, it became a de facto international border and one of the most tense fronts in the Cold War.
We were briefed on the current situation.
We inspect the current status of an infiltration tunnel which the North Koreans had been building. We found no current activity in this tunnel, and were unable to share reconnaissance photos.
Who knows where they are building now?
Reunification is a dream, but be cautious, you may get caught in between.Both the North and the South remained heavily dependent on their sponsor states from 1948 to the outbreak of the Korean War.
Rely on the army to protect. The conflict, which claimed over three million lives and divided the Korean Peninsula along ideological lines, commenced on June 25, 1950, with a Soviet-sponsored DPRK invasion across the DMZ, and ended in 1953 after international intervention pushed the front of the war back to near the 38th parallel.They divided us into two groups. Divide and conquer?
This raised block is the border between North and South Korea. If you cross over, you may never be heard from again.
In the ceasefire of July 27, 1953, the DMZ was created as each side agreed in the armistice to move their troops back 2,000 meters (2,200 yd) from the front line, creating a buffer zone 2.5 miles (4 km) wide.
We were allowed in this building which stradles the line. Mom and Shara are in South Korea, the other lady is in North Korea. I haven't seen her since.
I asked Shara to cross over. When she tried to, the Tai Kwan Doe black belt quickly persuaded her that that was the wrong move. We almost lost her, and it did give our hearts a jump.
I crossed over. When the two sides meet to talk about problems, the North is on the side I am standing in, and the South on Mom's side.
This guard is at the far end of the room, ready to prevent anyone from exiting this door into unknown destinations in North Korea.
The Military Demarcation Line (MDL) goes down the center of the DMZ and indicates exactly where the front was when the agreement was signed. Since the armistice agreement was never followed by a peace treaty, the two Koreas are still technically at war.
Mom and Shara are in North Korea, but not yet passed the final guard. When the North Koreans enter this building, I'm sure many of them cross over to the South Korea side. They shine their boots with the South Korean Flag.
One last look at the room straddling the border.
I crossed over. When the two sides meet to talk about problems, the North is on the side I am standing in, and the South on Mom's side.
This guard is at the far end of the room, ready to prevent anyone from exiting this door into unknown destinations in North Korea.The Military Demarcation Line (MDL) goes down the center of the DMZ and indicates exactly where the front was when the agreement was signed. Since the armistice agreement was never followed by a peace treaty, the two Koreas are still technically at war.
Mom and Shara are in North Korea, but not yet passed the final guard. When the North Koreans enter this building, I'm sure many of them cross over to the South Korea side. They shine their boots with the South Korean Flag.
One last look at the room straddling the border.Owing to this theoretical stalemate, and genuine hostility between the North and the South, large numbers of troops are still stationed along both sides of the line, each side guarding against potential aggression from the other side.
The building across the way is in North Korea. The blue one on the left is the one we were in.
With the help of my super high resolution lens, you are able to abserve the enemy. Notice the slightly opened curtains, there may be more than what the eye sees.
The armistice agreement explains exactly how many military personnel and what kind of weapons are allowed in the DMZ. Soldiers from both sides may patrol inside the DMZ, but they may not cross the MDL.
Sporadic outbreaks of violence due to North Korean hostilities killed over 500 South Korean soldiers and 50 U.S. soldiers along the DMZ between 1953 and 1999.
The soldier standing with half his body exposed, and the other half behind the building does this so when the enemy attacks he can see their advance, but can duck faster to safety.
North meets South. It's a standoff.
The right will prevail.
Believe me, these guys mean business!!!
Dad was approaching this soldier, hence, the salute. (Is he using his left hand?)
This is top secret survaillance photo of North Korea. 
Another view of top secret survaillance photo.
Residents of Tae Sung dong are governed and protected by the United Nations Command and are generally required to spend at least 240 nights per year in the village to maintain their residency.
When South Korea erected a flag pole, North Korea built this bigger one.
Observers Observing.
At this point, North Korea is on three sides of us. Be careful!
The "Bridge of No Return." Many prisonders were exchanged here.
The building across the way is in North Korea. The blue one on the left is the one we were in.
With the help of my super high resolution lens, you are able to abserve the enemy. Notice the slightly opened curtains, there may be more than what the eye sees.The armistice agreement explains exactly how many military personnel and what kind of weapons are allowed in the DMZ. Soldiers from both sides may patrol inside the DMZ, but they may not cross the MDL.
Sporadic outbreaks of violence due to North Korean hostilities killed over 500 South Korean soldiers and 50 U.S. soldiers along the DMZ between 1953 and 1999.
The soldier standing with half his body exposed, and the other half behind the building does this so when the enemy attacks he can see their advance, but can duck faster to safety.
North meets South. It's a standoff.
The right will prevail.
Believe me, these guys mean business!!!
Dad was approaching this soldier, hence, the salute. (Is he using his left hand?)
This is top secret survaillance photo of North Korea.
Tae Sung Dong was the only village allowed by the armistice committee to remain within the boundaries of the DMZ.
Another view of top secret survaillance photo.
Residents of Tae Sung dong are governed and protected by the United Nations Command and are generally required to spend at least 240 nights per year in the village to maintain their residency.
When South Korea erected a flag pole, North Korea built this bigger one.
Observers Observing.
At this point, North Korea is on three sides of us. Be careful!
The "Bridge of No Return." Many prisonders were exchanged here.
Remember that we shall return to America next year!
3 comments:
HA! I'm first.
That is an awesome blog. It is incredible that there could be such tension and distrust between two countries that were once one.
Dear Susan & Clyde,
Just got back from Arizona--I am so behind. Hmm, what a chunk of history. Of course the obvious question is why anyone, unless they have family there, would want to cross over to the North. You certainly took a lot of great pictures, as usual. Love, Holly
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