The Other Side of the Fence

North and South Korea’s Border

 

Separating North and South Korea, the Korean Demilitarized Zone was created in 1953 through the Korean Armistice Agreement.  Stretching 250km long and 4km wide, this is the most heavily militarized zone in the world (yes ironic-despite its name!).  Both sides are allowed to patrol with the militarized zone but neither side is allowed to cross the centre line crossing the middle of the zone.  North Korea runs tours that take visitors to the building where the armistice was signed and the conference tables and chairs are still kept intact.  Tourists need to line up to enter the zone to make sure everyone visits the area in an orderly manner, but the soldier tour guide was friendly enough to pose for pictures with eager tourists.  We walked around a small room packed with Korean souvenirs like ginseng and ornaments as we waited for our passports to be checked by the guards.  There’s of course propaganda telling of the need to unite both Koreas for the next generation.  The buildings where the soldiers stand on either side to keep guard stood opposite each other on either side.  We weren’t able to see any visible guards on South Korea’s side although similar tours run on the other side for tourists.  In the past few months, relations have been quite tense due to two South Korean soldiers stepping on landmines suspected to be laid by North Korea and the South responded with the renewed use of loudspeakers broadcasting propaganda against the North.  The “competition” between the two sides even occurred with the flagpoles when each side kept making their flagpole higher than the other.  North Korea’s flagpole is now the world’s fourth highest, standing at 98.4 metres!