DMZ Part 2

Next on our DMZ tour we headed to the infamous third tunnel, which is supposed to be the most impressive of the tunnels. Giving you a little background, North Korea had dug tunnels towards the South in order to do another surprise attack. So far 4 of these tunnels have been found, but they think there may be anywhere from 16-20 more of them that they haven't found.

The very first tunnel was found because the South noticed steam coming from the ground. The first tunnel went all the way past the Military Demarcation Line and in to South Korea, it was equipped with electric lighting, areas for sleeping and storage for weapons. Scary stuff. The second tunnel was found in 1978 and the fourth tunnel was found in 1990.

The third tunnel, which is the tunnel I saw, was found in 1978. A North Korean defector told the South about the tunnel and off the South went searching, all the while being watched by the North Koreans. In order to find the tunnel drilled a bunch of holes and used metal rods and put them in the ground, thinking that if there was a hole the rod would fall right through. Eventually they found the tunnel and because the North had seen them searching they had retreated... and tried to cover their tracks. They coated the walls of the tunnel in black and tried to say that it was a coal mine, when in fact all you needed to do was rub your hand on the wall for the black to come off and see the granite underneath. The tunnel is about 2 meters wide and 2 meters high (much much lower at some points), so while not big enough for a vehicle, it is big enough to have 30,000 men and their guns pass through within one hour. There are also drill marks for dynamite that point towards South Korea (I didn't really get this, but I don't understand explosives), which was another clue that the North built the tunnel to attack the South. I think that our guide said that the tunnel is 23 stories deep (which I could be wrong but it was quite the hike).

As I said earlier, we aren't allowed to take many pictures in the DMZ and definitely not of the tunnel but I took some from other online sources so you could see a little bit.

The beginning where you grab your mandatory hard hat before going down the steep decline

Inside the tunnel, this makes it look larger than it was... it definitely didn't seem this wide. 

What we walked to see. Beyond this door there are another two small sections. There used to be a guard stationed down here all day (can you imagine!), but now they use a camera to watch the doors. Thank goodness for technology. 

After the tunnel we headed outside and across the parking lot to catch a film about the DMZ. The film was terrible, just terrible. But the models and information our guide told us while waiting for the film was really interesting. There is a bridge called "The Bridge of No Return" that the South and North had used as a prisoner exchange at the end of the war. The prisoners could choose where they wanted to stay, for example if a prisoner from the North was being held in the South he could choose to go back north, or stay south. The problem was, once the choice was made, there was no going back. Many families were split for this reason, and it is also the reason many went back, knowing that they could never see their families again. 

Another story we were told was of a tree near this bridge that blocked the view of the South observing the bridge so with an America in charge they went to cut it down. They gave North Korea warnings that they were going to do it and not to be surprised. Well sure enough once they start North Korean soldiers come tell them to stop, the their great leader had planted that tree (completely impossible) and they were not allowed to cut it down. The American General basically told them to shove it and they left, only to return with more soldiers and axes of their own and proceeded to brutally attack them, killing the American General and another American in the process. Unreal. 

Okay, that's enough history lesson for now, there are many more stories I could tell but won't. The history of these two countries is truly fascinating, especially since it's not that old either. And now to leave you with a cutsie, oh so Korean photo

Note: There is a good chance I got some of the exact facts wrong. However, I am writing this as I was told and remember.... but it shouldn't be too far off base.... I hope.