I visited the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) in April 2010 and had a great experience. Clementine was going to be with me for two weeks only of which I had one week vacation. I thought of returning to the DMZ in winter and this would be the perfect opportunity. We spent most of our time sightseeing and relaxing in and around Seoul with the goal to visit the DMZ on a nice day. We checked the weather forecasts for a clear day as viewing the North on an overcast day would be pointless.
Going to the DMZ has to be done with an accredited tour group and there are numerous ones to choose from. These companies all offer the same trip for the same price and I decided on a company by finding the most creative brochure with the least amount of spelling errors.
They picked us up in the early morning outside our hotel and we were soon at the DMZ. A military check point and some pro-South Korean information and we were in the controversial DMZ.
The tour back in April was a little different because I went with my school and the highlight then was the viewpoint from the Dorasan observatory overlooking infamous North Korea. From here one can see into the rolling hills of North Korea as well as see the world’s tallest flagpole built by the North. You can view North Koreans working in the fields, riding their bicycles and chatting with each other.
We especially chose a clear day for this, but upon arrival we were informed that the viewpoint had been closed for security concerns. The closure of the observatory has been in place since the shelling of Yeongpeong Island back in November 2010. On our tour we did enter the DMZ area and visited the 3rd infiltration tunnel built by the North, but it was not the same without a good view of North Korea.
The second best option was to view North Korea from a viewpoint further away. It had snowed the night before and the landscape was beautifully covered under a blanket of snow. This was a different view to the Dorasan view. We could not see ordinary civilians outside and only viewed a ghost town drowned in snow and depression.
This was my second visit to the DMZ and you can read my previous blog entry here. It’s a very informative tour to have a better understanding of the Korean divide and one I’d recommend for all those visiting Korea or living near by.
Tensions are not as high as what they were at the end of November and it seems reasonably calm for now, but trends and history have proven that this chapter is far from complete.
