While we traveled by bus to the DMZ we were stopped at two different points and everyone's passports were checked; first time by a South Korean serviceman and the second time by an American serviceman. We were told the rules several times before entering the JSA (joint security area). Once we got to the visitors center we watched a film and signed this release form informing us that there is a possibility we could be killed if there is any hostile incident and at anytime there could be the risk of such an event. It made me feel a little uneasy. We certainly felt the importance and the significance of where we were. It was humbling.
As you first walk out into the JSA you see the South Korean military men standing facing the North Korean building. Those men didn't move, they didn't look real at first to me. It was the strangest feeling.
This is Panmunjeom, it is the site of the signing of the Armistice which ended the Korean War in 1953. It is also where the North meets South to address military, economic, and political issues. The blue building to the left is where the North and South meet. The building is half on the North and half on the South. A joint duty office representative from each side is required to remain at the JSA 24 hours daily in order to rapidly respond to any incident. The JSA is formed on the 38th parallel.
Looking straight at North Korea.
One soldier of the Korean's People's Army is all we could see. We were told however, that there were more inside the building watching us. We were warned not to take pictures of certain area's.
We were told so many fascinating things. This tour was incredible.
We went on this tour Saturday, March 22. There were only two tour buses on this day. So there weren't too many people which was nice.
Here is the center line of North and South. The gravel side is the South. We took this picture from inside the building.
This is the table that meetings between the two Korea's take place. The right of the table is the North and the left the South. Standing in front is a South Korean guard. You weren't allowed to get too close to him. We were warned that if we stood too close to him he would knock you down.
I wasn't going to see if he'd knock me down. I looked a bit worried though lol. But we were allowed to take a picture with him.
Rick had fun talking to our American serviceman. He was very friendly and fun to talk to. He's from New Jersey. We sure have a new appreciation for these guys. What they do is nothing short of courageous.
This is a monument where a poplar tree once stood that was cut down by our U.S. men. There is a grizzly story behind it. The Axe Murder Incident, the most brutal event in the history of the Panmunjom’s JSA. It occurred on August 18, 1976. It resulted in extremely heightened inter-Korean tension which escalated short of another war. If you want to read about it, just google: The Axe Murder Incident.
This is the bridge of no return, it is located near the tree monument. After the Korean war, soldiers from either side could decide which side they wanted to go to, but once they crossed over there was no going back.
These are ribbons of prayers and wishes for a peaceful unification of the two Korea's. It is so sad that this war took place. So many families were separated and millions of lives lost. We were standing on sacred ground. I have felt this in three other places too, ground zero in New York, Arlington Cemetery, and Gettysburg. I'm proud to say that my dad served in the Korean War. If it weren't for the U.S. and the UNC forces all of Korea would be under communist rule. I am so grateful that South Korea is a free country and is economically one of the strongest in the world. They're an industrious and hard working people. Very smart too. Their history is so intriguing.
This is where are tour bus stopped before we went on to the JSA. Lots of history here. This is Imjingak, located on the Imjingang River in the city of Paju, it is the borderland closest to the DMZ and JSA. It bares the scares of a divided nation.
This is a picture of two bridges. They were both blown up during the war. The one on the left has been rebuilt and goes into North Korea as an agreement to transport goods from the North. But as of yet it is not in operation. We were told that while the South funded the project entirely. All of the labor was from the North. South Korea paid each worker $65.00 a month and then the leaders of the North kept $60.00 dollars of it and let the workers keep a whooping $5.00 each. You know who is living large, literally, ha ha.
It is also called the freedom bridge from the war. The bridge was built to free 12,773 prisoners who reached the Gyeonjui line bridge by car and walked across it.
We sat next to a family from Canada on the bus and while we had lunch. Their daughter was teaching English in Seoul and her parents were visiting for the first time too. I wish we would of gotten a picture of them. The dad is taking our picture. More than half of the others on the tour were Japanese tourists.
