DMZ & JSA field trip

Korea: 06/17/11 Morning

06/16/11
Lots of pics today! Went to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and JSA (Joint Security Area) for the day.

We started off at this park (the name escapes me right now) that had altars built to honor family members in N. Korea. The wall of notes to loved ones is especially sad.

Then we walked through the 3rd Tunnel, one of the N. Korean tunnels the S. Koreans found and blocked off. It was an intense walk... about 350 meters down, and then the same steep climb up. I do not recommend this not only to people who are out of shape/inappropriately dressed (there were women in high heeled sandals going down.. I was like GOOD LUCK girlfriends you are in for the hike of your life), but also to people who are claustrophobic.. I'm generally not, but even I was getting a little freaked out by how far down we were and how narrow the tunnel was. Plus it's dark and wet. But we were able to see the blockade that was made. And drink DMZ water. We were not allowed to take pictures down there.

Miniature model of the JSA.

My first real glimpse into N. Korea. Couldn't take pics beyond a certain area or ROK (Republic of Korea) soldiers would delete everything from the camera.

After, went to this train station that was supposed to signify the future of the Koreas and the hope that they will be connected someday. This concluded the DMZ portion of the tour.

Then began the JSA (or Panmunjeom) part of the tour. I actually enjoyed this part way more than the DMZ. We saw a lot more than my pics contain because some parts we were not allowed to photograph.

Wearing the badge they gave us. xP

On the N. Korean side of the conference room. This soldier is guarding the door that leads directly into N. Korea.

In this picture, the portion of the table above the microphones (that are on and monitored 24/7) is the N. Korean side, and below is the S. Korean side.

ROK soldiers guarding. They wear sunglasses to not make eye contact with N. Korean soldiers (KPA) and guard with half their bodies behind the building.

N. Korean observing us. It got REAL real quickly. I should also note that in this area we were not allowed to point or make any gestures in case the N. Korea used our photos for propaganda.

N. Korea propaganda village (Gijongdong). Nobody lives here.

Memorial of a tree where 2 US soldiers were killed by KPA with axes.

Bridge of No Return. POWs were lined up here and could choose which side to stay on. But once they chose, they couldn't go back.

Then made an impromptu trip to the Korean War Museum since we were dropped off really close by.

It was a pretty exhausting day overall. I did not like that the trip was so touristy, since there were tons of people and we had to see everything really quickly, plus it kind of took away from the seriousness of where we were with all the tour buses and people taking pictures every which way (though I know I am also guilty of contributing to this). I think that's why I liked JSA better. Less people came with us, and we saw soldiers in action, guarding the nation. But I learned a lot more about Korean history and to be able to see places that are relevant in current events made it that much more real.