DMZ

Korea is an ancient country.  After WWII Korea was divided with Russia supporting the north and the US supporting the south.  Then in 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea which lead to a 3+ year conflict which ended in a "stalemate".  In 1953, North and South Korea worked out an agreement (with prodding from China and the U.S.) to allow for a buffer zone (the DMZ) separating the ideologically opposed regions.  When the two Korea's need to negotiate, they enter the DMZ and work in the JSA (Joint Security Area).  As carefully controlled as it may sound, four tunnels beneath the DMZ have been discovered.  Monitoring has been constant ever since.

Twelve hearty travelers visit the DMZ

Today, most South Koreans hope for a reunification

Military observation point

People line up at the Dorasan Observatory for a view across the DMZ to North Korea

It's pretty hazy so there's not much to see in the DMZ. Speakers blast propaganda

In the 1970's the South Korean's discovered 4 tunnels the North Korean's had built to attack Seoul. We had the chance to walk through tunnel #3.

Mr. Kim, North Korean defector, and our guide Ashley

​Later in the day we met with a North Korean defector, who gave us a sobering glimpse of life living under that country’s oppressive regime.  He told a fascinating story of escaping North Korea via China, Vietnam and Cambodia before arriving in South Korea.  After completing a college degree, he now works as an international broker of heavy equipment.

​It's amazing to be in South Korea at this moment - yesterday the US and S. Korea reached a trade deal while Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, is in Beijing meeting with Xi Jinping, leader of China and North and South Korea have announced a summit for May.  After all these years, will we be seeing significant changes in the Korean peninsula?

Tomorrow we travel to a Buddhist monastery where we'll stay for the night.  We'll be without TV or internet, so this blog will be silent for a couple days.