​​​​Lost Paradises Travels - Asia

SOUTH KOREA - DMZ -

Korean Demilitarized Zone

The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula between South Korea and North Korea. It is established by the provisions of the Korean Armistice Agreement to serve as a buffer zone between the two countries and was created by agreement between North Korea, China and the United Nations in 1953. The DMZ is 250 kms (160 miles) long, and about 4 kms (2.5 miles) wide. Various incidents happened in and around the DMZ, with military and civilian casualties on both sides.
Four tunnels under the DMS have been discovered and it is possible to visit the 3rd one. The Third Tunnel of Aggression, or Third Infiltration Tunnel, is one of four known tunnels under the border between North Korea and South Korea, extending south of Panmunjom. Only 44 km (27 miles) from Seoul, the incomplete tunnel was discovered in October 1978 following the detection of an underground explosion in June 1978, apparently caused by the tunnellers who had progressed 435 metres (1,427 feet) under the south side of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).  The incomplete tunnel is 1,635 metres (1.0 mile) long, of 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) maximum high and 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) wide. It was apparently designed for a surprise attack on Seoul from North Korea, and could, according to visitor information in the tunnel, accommodate 30,000 men per hour along with light weaponry. Upon discovery of the third tunnel, the United Nations Command accused North Korea of threatening the 1953 armistice agreement signed at the end of the Korean War as it is considered as an act of aggression  from North Korea.