Demilitarized Zone and the Joint Security Area

/The DMZ. Well. The only way to get there is through a tour company. The tour included a surprisingly good buffet lunch, and passage to and through the DMZ, Camp Bonifas, Panmunjom, the Freedom Bridge, a view of the Freedom village and a tour of the border and defences between the North and the South. Oh and of course .. the Joint Security Area (JSA). The tour also included a English guide who gave us a pretty good account of the Korean conflict and the creation of the DMZ. In Camp Bonifas (CB) we were given UNSecurity clearance passes and transferred into a UN vehicle in order to enter the DMZ. Oh, before leaving CB we were shown a presentation detailing the past few 'incidents' that have occured at the DMZ in the past 30 years. Including the famous 'Axe murder'. Also, we had to sign waivers stating that we would not hold the UN or the government of South Korea responsable if something were to 'happen' upon entering hostile territory. To enter the DMZ we had to pass through a number of security check points, guard stations and mine fields. Anyways, the Highlight was definitely th JSA where we actually crossed over to North Korea. The trip was very interesting. I was definitely given a new appreciation of the seriousness of the conflict.

Three R.O.K. (Republic of Korea) Soldiers and me

The bridge of no return

A plaque marking the location of the tree at the centre of the 'axe murder incident'.

A North Korean guard tower.

A plaque thanking the various nations who 'helped' during the Korean War


North Korea. DML (demarkation line) boundary marked by signposts.

Freedom village. The only village allowed in the DMZ.

North Korean guard tower.

DML sign post.

Freedom village.

A ROK soldier on duty. No he's not staring at the wall. Half of him is looking down the building towards the North Korean side of the compound. In this stance most of his body is still protected.

Freedom monument at the JSA.

North Korean guard tower at the JSA.

Sgt Rogers our UN military escort.

ROK soliders at the JSA.

Inside the only building built on both South and North Korean soil. The concrete slab outside marks the border between north and south.

Attention!

ROK soldier in ready stance.

North Korean guard tower at JSA... again.

JSA buildings.

Freedom bridge and the only train track into North Korea.

ROK soldier.

The North-South border. Yes I'm on the North side... oops.

Brydie and I .... uh posing?

The Bridge to North Korea.

The bridge.

Freedom Bridge. The location where people from the North fled south during/after the war.

Freedom bridge. Letter of Peace.

Freedom bridge.

Peace Monument at Freedom bridge.