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The Korean Demilitarized Zone (Korean: 한반도 비무장지대) is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea.. It is 155 miles (248 km) long and approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) wide, and is the most heavily militarized border in the world.

2)     Where is this place?

The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and the east end lying north of it.

3)     Why do tourists visit this place?

At demilitarised zone, people visit to places like Panmunjom, 3^rd infiltration tower, nature reserve, and village in side DMZ. Tourists visit this place as they can learn more about the relationship between North and South Korea. They can also take a glimpse of how propaganda was carried out in North Korea. Also, as DMZ has many endangered animals and plants, people come to see the untouched nature.

4)     What are the sources of information for this place?

http://www.tourdmz.com/english/05koreawar/p1.php

http://www.koreadmztour.com/english/dmz/dmz_3.htm

http://www.koreadmztour.com/english/jsa/jsa_18.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Demilitarized_Zone

http://www.koreadmztour.com/english/dmz/dmz_8.htm

5)     How was demilitarized zone in Korea formed?

Korea gained independence in August, 1945 when Japan unconditionally surrendered from the Allied Force’s atomic attack. Due to the ideological conflict between the world powers, the US and the Soviet Union Army occupied the South and the North of the Korean peninsula which was divided at the 38th Parallel.

Subsequently, four occasions of unwilled conferences resulted in consequences which were far from the country’s desire of a unified nation and the opposed government of trusteeship was settled. From this point on, the partition of the Korean peninsula was firmly settled as two different governments were established on each side; the Republic of Korea in the South and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the North.

On June 25th, 1950, with the intent of communization, North Korea’s ruler Kim, Il-sung invaded the South equipped with newest weapons with assistance from the Soviet Union. After the outbreak of the war, the North occupied Seoul in 3 days and by one month they grew close to the line of defense in the Nakdong River showing much dominance.

By the success of the U.N. Force’s Incheon Landing Operation, the South regained Seoul, Wonsan, and Pyungyang, and it seemed like the unification was close at hand but due to intervention from the Chinese Forces, the war was prolonged. In efforts from both sides to occupy the 38th Parallel, an armistice issue was mentioned by the United States and the United Nations. And in July 1951, the first meeting was held in Gaesung.

The UN proposed a change of location for the meeting on the ground that Gae-sung is located north of the 38th Parallel. The Soviet Union accepted the proposal and in October 1951, the Panmunjom was determined as the new conference location.

As a result, the Korean peninsula was divided into two separate nations without the consent of its own people, and the one and only Demilitarized Zone in the world was born.

6)      What are the main tourist attractions in DMZ?

The DMZ is the only place in the world where confronting ideologies still face each other. The DMZ ranges from the Han River Estuary, at the western end of Korea, to 39 north latitude on the East Coast.

Panmunjom

Unlike any other place, Panmunjom shows the tension between two nations and also makes one realize the importance of the liberty and the peace. In the JSA, the tour is conducted under the solemn and watchful eyes of the UNCSB-JSA soldiers.

3^rd Infiltration Tunnel

Only 44 kilometres or, less than an hour's drive, from Seoul, the third tunnel was discovered in October 1978. Almost identical in structure to Tunnel Ⅱ, the 1.635 kilometre-long tunnel, 1.95 meters high and 2.1 meters wide, penetrates 435 meters south of the Military Demarcation Line at a point only 4 kilometres south of the Truce Village of Panmunjom. It runs through bedrock at a depth of about 73 meters below ground.

Capable of moving a full division per hour, plus their weapons, it is evidently designed for a surprise attack on Seoul. Almost identical with Tunnel Ⅱin structure, this tunnel is only 2 kilometres from a key outpost defending the Munsan corridor leaning to Seoul

Nature reserve