The De-Militarised Zone in Korea

The visit to the DMZ was the highlight of our trip to South Korea. We have to thank our daughter E for booking us on a local tour to visit the place. It actually took two tries. The first time, we went there, waited at the entrance for 2 hours, and was then told by the South Korean military that the DMZ was closed for the day, because of heavy snowfall.  We could just give up and receive a refund.  But we decided to try again the following day and our persistence was eventually rewarded. 

The DMZ is a 4 kilometre-wide strip of land straddling the demarcation line dividing South Korea from North Korea.  From an observation tower at the edge of the DMZ, we would see, towards the north west, the Imjingang Railway Bridge crossing the river leading towards North Korea.  In parallel and to the east (to the right in the photo) of the railway bridge is what was left from the old railway bridge which was destroyed in the war.  

Birds (Kites, I believe) can fly freely above and across the DMZ.  But not us humans. 

A memorial/altar was set up, in line with the bridge, looking towards the north.  People come here to pay respect to their ancestors, or to remember those who are presumably alive in the north.  Not only can they not go to the north, all communication with the north are cut off.  

Many people tie ribbons to the fences.  For a similar reason. To pray and hope for peace and reunification. 

At an observation tower inside the DMZ, we can look across the actual demarcation line into North Korea.  There is a South Korea flag at a small village just south (to the right in the photo) of the demarcation line.  There is a North Korea flag at a small village just north (to the left in the photo) of the demarcation line. 

Large scale fighting of the Korean War stopped in 1953.  But the hostilities has not really ceased.  No formal peace treaty has been signed.  Technically, they are still at war.  Both sides keep large standing armies. The people long for peace but no one has any ideas when it will come.  The war is ubiquitous in the lives of the people, even 70 years after the fighting had stopped.   Even though South Korea has become one of the most advanced, vibrant, hard-working, creative and friendly places in the world.