This place is something else. It makes you feel like full scale war could break out any minute between the two. Even though I was only visiting you can just feel the tension in the air since it really is a full on stand off. Their weapons are pointed at us and our weapons are pointed at them. Its been this way for more than 60 years, crazy stuff. Well enough talk, on to the pics.
This was built as a memorial to the years of separation and in hope that in the 21st century the two Koreas can once again be one.
the bell weighs 21 tons! symbolizing the 21st century.
as you can the the fortifications are pretty intense
another shrine to reunification
This hunk of rust is a train that was attacked in the korean war and was stranded in the DMZ for over 50 years, it was recovered and put on display. This thing is a big symbol of the war to south Korea.
a pool in the shape of Korea north and south with a barbed wire strip separating them. Normally this would be filled and the fountains would be going if it were summer time.
A couple Korean biker guys. I thought the Interstate 777 sign on his back was funny.
another shrine
a 3d map of just how close to north korea the observatory I was at to north korea.
Lunch, I wasn't sure what some of this stuff was but it was all pretty good eating.
I assume another shrine, im not sure.
this place distracted me for a bit and I am trying to figure out how to get back up there to go Karting.
A wall with all the names of people who contributed money to open a railway station going to north Korea. Its sad that the north isn't interested.
This place was built to symbolize the souths intent to unite with the north
painting of the train I posted farther up. This was inside the station.
Brand new state of the art station that has never been used.
President Bush came to the grand opening of the station and signed a railroad tie, They make a really big deal about this.
hey I know that guy
this is the sign for the US/ROK army base in just on the edge of the DMZ, you have to pass through this place to get to the JSA.
In this building you get a briefing about how dangerous the are you are going into is and you have to sign a waiver that you realize that fighting could break out at any time and that they cannot guarantee your safety. I kept my waiver lol.
We were not allowed to take pics on the way to the JSA so I have to skip that part.
This is a Statue in the JSA, another reunification deal. Its supposed to look like two hands holding each other.... yeah I don't see it.
this is the stand off that happens everyday. The south watching the north and the north watching their side for defectors.
those white posts are markers of the actual Demarcation line itself.
north korean troops were everywhere watching us.
this is the room where all the armistice talks are held between the north and the south.
That concrete slab is the Demarcation line and I am actually standing on the north side of the line. :)
ROK Ready!
This is a Fake town that the north setup to make it look like everything in north Korea is awesome. But none of the buildings have windows and nobody even lives there.
Annnnd my camera died. So I didn't Get any more photos than that. If you are ever in south Korea you have to go to the DMZ it really is worth the trip.
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