North Korea.
The Hermit Kingdom.
Home to one of the craziest, most oppressive regimes in history.
And thanks to my producer,
that's where I'm going today.
What's that Matt?
What do you mean we're going to North Korea?!
If you couldn't tell from the constant stream of soldiers, barbed wire, and intense security,
North and South Korea are technically still at war.
And even though you can come here on a bus tour,
as the tour guides are only oh so often ready to remind us,
this is not Disneyland.
The DMZ, or demilitarized zone,
is the stretch of land separating the North and South Korean border on either side
about 2 miles wide.
The Korean War sort of ended with an armistice agreement in 1953,
when the two militaries pledged to end
"any hostile act within, from, or against the demilitarized zone.”
Then they filled it with landmines.
What's on the other side of those white posts?
Landmines. Lots of landmines.
Occasionally, you'll see the remains of an animal that stepped on one.
Did I mention this is not Disneyland?
To get here, I travel up the un-ironically named "Freedom Highway."
Everywhere there's a monument to war and destruction,
to the horror of bloodshed, the…
DMZ themed restaurant, premium outlet malls, and Popeye's chicken!
Also, there was this creepy empty amusement park.
This is the Dorasan Train Station.
It serves as a tribute to the hope of a one day unified Korea.
Though technically, the Korean Peninsula could be unified tomorrow
if the south would just accept the benevolent leadership of glorious leader Kim Jong-un.
Hypothetically, one day you will be able to take a train from Seoul through here to the
North Korean capitol Pyongyang.
It obviously does not currently connect.
On the way to the North Korean border,
I took a tour of this cramped, narrow tunnel
known as the Third Infiltration Tunnel.
It's one of many North Korea dug in the hopes of launching a future invasion on South Korea.
Though since it's hard for even one person to stand up in,
and it's 27 miles from Seoul and has no oxygen vents, good luck sending your troops through.
I sure wouldn't want to have been a North Korean tunnel digger.
Now we're on our way to the Joint Security Area,
where I plan to actually cross the border into North Korea.
After passport controls,
I have to sign this visitor declaration that says,
amongst other things, this entails the entrance into
"a hostile area and the possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action."
Is it too late for second thoughts?
At last, we reach the actual border between North and South Korea.
See that North Korean soldier there, watching?
Is this really a good idea?
Sure it is!
I go into one of the blue buildings on the border.
"Uh, excuse me. So what country are we in right now?
Think about it.
We crossed the border line.
So we're in…
North Korea! North Korea this side.
Wow…
Are you scared
I'm ready to defect.
Oh
I am so ready to go back to South Korea.
And here I am.
As we leave,
A flock of birds fly over the rice paddies.
For them there are no borders.
I take a moment to reflect on the delicate balance struck in this place between the tragedy
of the past and the hope for the future
and to enjoy the chocolate you can only get in the DMZ!
This is Chris Chappell, thanks for watching this episode of
Korea Uncensored?