DMZ
Thanks to Narchie's recommendation, I took the tour to see the DMZ. This demilitarized zone probably inspired internet firewall configurations.
Photography is mostly prohibited when taking this tour. So I don't have much to show for it
The guide said, the first time you take a picture, they'll make sure that it's erased, the second time you take it, they'll confiscate the film, the third time you try taking a picture at the wrong places, you will get a "special" memory.
We were given a briefing in English by a S. Korean soldier, introducing the DMZ using a model as well as the large window view into the DMZ. He spoke with thick English accent, sounds almost like a WWII British commander. He was tall and not half bad looking, so mom insisted on a picture without him looking.
The North Koreans apparently have been trying to dig tunnels through the DMZ, and 4 attempts have been discovered and stopped. Part of the tour included a trip down to the tunnel, taking us very close to the MDL, it was a steep climb down, quite the workout to come back up.
Apparently now there is a highway and railway directly through the DMZ to a special economic zone in North Korea, where workers are paid directly by special south Korean corporations.
So we stopped by the Dorasan, the last train station before going into North Korea territory.
The station was totally empty, but the upbeat guide tried to say that one day soon North/South trade will make this station very busy. That was probably propaganda under the sunshine policy, I doubt one can be that insistent on the prospect of peace with the fences, guns and soldiers standing in your face.
Photography is mostly prohibited when taking this tour. So I don't have much to show for it
The guide said, the first time you take a picture, they'll make sure that it's erased, the second time you take it, they'll confiscate the film, the third time you try taking a picture at the wrong places, you will get a "special" memory.
We were given a briefing in English by a S. Korean soldier, introducing the DMZ using a model as well as the large window view into the DMZ. He spoke with thick English accent, sounds almost like a WWII British commander. He was tall and not half bad looking, so mom insisted on a picture without him looking.
The North Koreans apparently have been trying to dig tunnels through the DMZ, and 4 attempts have been discovered and stopped. Part of the tour included a trip down to the tunnel, taking us very close to the MDL, it was a steep climb down, quite the workout to come back up.
Apparently now there is a highway and railway directly through the DMZ to a special economic zone in North Korea, where workers are paid directly by special south Korean corporations.
So we stopped by the Dorasan, the last train station before going into North Korea territory.
The station was totally empty, but the upbeat guide tried to say that one day soon North/South trade will make this station very busy. That was probably propaganda under the sunshine policy, I doubt one can be that insistent on the prospect of peace with the fences, guns and soldiers standing in your face.
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