My day at the DMZ

So yesterday, Paul, Kerry, Paula and I went on a DMZ Tour. We all got up at 6am (to be at the station for 8), then boarded a tour bus and made our way to Paju and then to North Korea. The tour lasted about 7 hours... and though it was soooo cold! it was totally worth it. The information (though it was very anti-North) was extremely interesting... but it was also pretty upsetting... I mean I know that things are tense... but to actually see them... well it was alarming. Anyways here are the photos of our trip.

Paul, Kerry and Paula on the Tour bus. To take the tour there were clothing requirements. Because we were going to be going into North Korea we were not allowed to wear: jeans, track pants, army colours, sandals, sleeveless tops, tank tops... and the list goes on.

Me at the Unification Bridge. This is where the North and South exchanged POWs after agreeing to no longer use force in the war (yes.. so technically they are still at war). Aparently, South Korea returned over 80,000 North Korean POWs, while North Korea only returned 13,000 American and South Koreans. So every year, at major holidays, families that have lost relatives journey here to pray and offer their respect.

Paul and Kerry at the Unification Bridge.

Paul and Kerry in the Third Tunnel. This is one of 4 tunnels discovered by the UN and South Korea that the North have dug since agreeing to a cease fire (there are rumored to be at least 20.. though not all pf them have been found). With this tunnel, the North claimed that they were digging the tunnels for coal and even went as far to paint the walls black to back up their claims. This tunnel though could hold upto 13,000 (I think) troops and is only 52km away from the heart of Seoul. Now, the tunnel has been blocked with a concrete wall on the North/South border, with each side holding its own tour. To get down the tunnel (350m) we took a monorail system, but to get up... we walked (I WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN... though it was worthwhile just to say that I did!)

Kerry, Paul and Paula looking into North Korea. It is pretty sad... any of the landscape that did not have trees was North Korean property. Because the people of the North are so impoverished, they have cut down most of their trees for fuel.