Tangled Web, DMZ bound...

Prior to heading into the DMZ we were made to sign a release which basically stated that we were entering a highly dangerous demilitarized zone.  Chances of being shot and killed in this zone were more probable than any other place in the world at that time.  Should we be shot and killed, we had to promise not to sue the U.S. or Korean militaries.  All pictures were taken in September-November of 1995 by me unless otherwise noted


North Korean Propaganda Village

I took this picture from the South Korean side of the Imjin river using a 300mm zoom lens and a doubler from about a mile away.  If one looks at this "village" through a high-power telescope, one would see shops with merchandise and other riches.  I'm told that this is all propaganda.  There are no "real" shops and the merchandise is "planted" for South Korea's benefit.  No people live there.

Here's a better picture of the Propaganda Village as taken by Isaac Johnson.

Another noteworthy item is the flag.  If you look closely you will notice that it is the size of one of the 3 story buildings.  It measures 30 meters by 60 meters and weighs 600 lbs.  And though it is not the largest flag in the world, it is the largest flag being flown from the tallest, unsupported flag pole in the world, which stands 52 stories high.  It seems that sometime during the '70's North and South Korea got into a "flag war."  By the time they were done one-upping each other, North Korea ended up with their 600 lb. bohemoth.  Rumor has it that Soldier of Fortune magazine will pay a handsome sum for a part or all of this flag.  However that rumor has been debunked by yours truly via the Soldier of Fortune website.  Soldier of Fortune adamantly denies the validy of any such rumor.


During the night, while trying to sleep at Camp Bonifas, propaganda speeches could be heard echoeing from North Korea through the cool, Korean night air via the 2-story-tall speaker system placed on a hill-side facing South Korea.  The distant, echoing of Hongul was enough to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.  It really was creepy.  Fortunately for all of us, in June, 2004, in an effort to reduce tension in the DMZ area, both sides agreed to dismantle their large speaker towers and billboards.

















Here's a picture of Bat modeling one of the many trenches dug in the ground.  These trenches provide a maze of paths which facilitate access to the entire bunker system.  We were amazed at how vast this system was.











Here's a couple pictures of the fortification that lies on the South Korean side of the Imjin river.

 

Guard shacks were manned by armed guards 24/7.









Here's a picture from our bus as we were crossing over the Imjin river into the DMZ via the "Freedom Bridge."








Here's a couple pictures of the bunker system at Panmunjom.

   




Here's the "Bridge of no return" where American prisoners were exchanged for North Korean prisoners many years ago.  This bridge is about 50' from where Captain Bonifas (the camp's namesake) was killed during operation "Paul Bunyan."












Here's a picture of the "bridge of no return" (pictured above).  And again from a diffrent angle and farther away (pictured to the left).  Captain Bonifas was killed about 50' this side of the blue guard shack.  Captain Bonifas and his small contingent were attacked while trying to trim a tree that was obstructing view of the guard shack from the vantage point of where this picture was taken, which was the location of an adjoining guard shack.  As part of a cooperative effort, guard shacks are strategically placed so they can keep an eye on each other.  Over time a large poplar tree grew and thus was blocking the view between these guard shacks, so the U.S. military sent out a contingent headed up by Captain Bonifas to trim the offending tree.  North Korea warned the U.S. military against trimming the tree.  North Korea KPA soldiers attacked when they saw that their warning had not been heeded.  Captain Bonifas was killed in that raid.  Please click on image for a more detailed view.












Here's a picture taken at the Truce Village in the Korean DMZ.


















Here's a final picture taken next to a ROK Soldier at the Truce Village right on the DMZ.  The flag on the table represents the border between North and South Korea.  I am actually standing on the North side of the flag, which is communist North Korea.








This page is complete as of February 25, 2005 - 1:37 AM.

This page is up as of January 30, 2005 - 10:45 PM.  Last updated January 30, 2005 - 10:45 PM.

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