North Korea is the most dangerous border in world. The Demilitarized Zone aka DMZ runs along the 38th parallel resulting from peace agreement from the Korean War. Actually DMZ is not demilitarized but heavily fortified by checkpoints, army base, soldiers, land mines, blockades, toll gates and barbed wire everywhere. Under the DMZ, tunnels were built by North Koreans for invasion, and discovered 1978 by South Koreans. A defector previously surveyor reported the tunnel large enough to move 30,000 troops/hour showing their intention to infiltrate. Currently, about 10 million visitors visit the DMZ. Our passports checked twice & no pictures or video. There is an observatory to see the landscape of North Korea, a 0.4 mile walk inside tunnel and crossing of the unification bridge.

The Unification bridge crosses South Korea to the DMZ. Interesting fact- Founder of Hyundai Chung Ju-yung donated money to build the Unification bridge. He was born a poor farmers son in N Korea. He stole Dads cow, sold it & used the money to defect into South Korea. In South Korea, he made his money by an auto repair for US military before founding Hyundai. He donated money to build the Unification bridge at the DMZ. Once bridge opened, he took 1000 cows across bridge to honor his Father whose cow he stole.

Korean War (1948-1953) is known as the lost war. Like the Vietnam war, both were a draw but unlike the Vietnam War, Korean War was not televised. 300,000 Chinese troops without weapons, invaded North Korea because UN troops pushed North Korean forces to China border, which posed a threat to China’s security. Like the Vietnam war, Americans sent ground troops & heavily bombed Korea. My Dad was a musician entertaining the troops with Bob Hope during the Korean War. CORRECTION-When Dad was there, there was no 38 parallel. He played for the troops in capital of North Korea all the way up to the Chinese border. When the Chinese sent troops in, the Americans were pushed all the way back to the 38th parallel.

In addition to gender inequality, single Mothers, dog eating, discrimination against defectors….the issue of Unification (between N & S. Korea) continues. Majority of Koreans consider North Korea as a separate country that they hear on the news. Whereas the older generation envision a Korea a single, sovereign state. North Korea could contribute natural resources: rare earth elements (used in combustion) and add a population of 25 million.

The North Koreans are indoctrinated to worship President Lin but neglect poverty and hunger of its people. Indoctrination, propaganda, censorship in North Korea continues today. They say weapons are hidden inside tunnels in mountains. South Korea monitor how the mountains have severe deforestation. There was 34,000 defectors but that number has dwindled of recent. Still North Korea sends balloons dumping trash into South Korea. In retaliation the South Korea soldiers at the DMZ blast K-pop and loud message to say “Life is better in South Korea. If you want to defect, we will take care of you.” A north Korean soldier at border contemplated defecting for 3 years but took only 3 hours to successfully cross the border.

PS Dog breeding & eating was abolished by impeached President & wife who were dog lovers.