I got up early and made a reservation to go to the DMZ on the border of North & South Korea. Within minutes the conformation was slid under my door. I was picked up promptly and after an hour drive arrived.
There were 4 tunnels that were hand dug by the North Koreans that go under ground and under the border that were to be used for potential invation purposes. The most recent one (number 4) was discovered with the help of a defector in 1978. We got to go underground around 73 meters to see the number 3 tunnel. No pictures were allowed. We walked along the way to a concrete wall that the South Koreans had created to stop the tunnel. Very interesting. They say that there are new tunnels being built now and the South Koreans continue the search.
We could see North Korea from many view points and even could see a guard with the help of high powered binoculars. There were many land mines in the area. If they had to gather them all up it would take 400 years to accomplish. There were fake villages across the border to make it look like they are doing well. In reality the people are living on corn and corn porridge (whatever that is). Many live on dirt floors and have no way to communicate. Some think life in Seoul is the same as what their life is. They are brianwashed. Many are shorter than normal due to malnutrition.
The sanctions put in place by the UN are working and some people believe at some point Kim Jong Un regime will collapse. We were fortunate enough to have a female defector with us that the tour company hired to help explain the North. I got my picture taken with her but for her saftey I am not going to post it in this blog. She told us only 15% of the people in the north have electricity. The locals also believe that Kim Jung Un will never give up all nuclear capabilities. There are are around 1,000 defectors a year that escape. 32,000 currently live in Seoul.
There is a big underground female human traffic business coming out of North Korea where brokers are paid to get someone out and then another broker is also involved once that person is out. If the defector or the broker gets caught by North Korea they are killed. They usually try to get to Thailand and if they make it they are safe. Many eventually come back to South Korea where the government will pay them a lump some of $15,000 and then $400 a month for around 6 months to help them get established.
We were also told about the recent shooting of the soldier that tried to cross the border and survived. He was shot with rifles (which are not permited in that area – only hand guns according to the agreement).
In North Korea all the men have to join the military for 10 years and all the women for 7 years.
After this we were delivered to a shopping area where I had lunch and then took a cab to the North Seoul Tower where I climbed steps for 30 minutes in order to reach the top. The views where beautiful! Between all the steps at the tunnel and these steps I have had quite a workout today!
Back at the Hyatt for a drink while listening to these very graceful musicians play very soothing music.
Doug's Travels 