This is the Demilitarized Zone or DMZ.
It acts as a border
between North and South Korea.
As dangerous as it looks now,
this place is visited
by over a million tourists every year.
If you want to visit solo,
the DMZ museum and Unification Tower
are open to independent travelers
from the South.
But think about this.
You're walking into a war zone.
The soldiers may be on truce,
but the land mines are still there.
How can you know where to walk?
That's the thing,
you can't.
That's why you'll need a guide
to show you the way.
This is not a place
where you want to wander off.
So it's best to buddy-up.
Stay with your guides and military escorts
at all times.
You will likely have to sign a form
that secures the authorities
against any liability if you get separated
and hurt yourself.
Having second thoughts?
No?
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We'll take care of the travel arrangments.
Let's start the tour shall we?
The DMZ was established in 1953
after both countries signed
an armistice agreement
to end three years of brutal fighting.
The DMZ runs across the Korean peninsula.
It's about 249 km (155 mi) long
and 3.2 km (2 mi) wide.
You'll see barbed wire fences on both sides
and hundreds of thousands of troops
with heavy artillery.
This land is also off-limits
to industrial developments,
allowing wildlife and plant life to bloom.
But you're not an endangered species,
and if you take the wrong path,
"You'll probably get shot."
The DMZ is about 48.3 km (30 mi)
north of Seoul.
The most visited part of the DMZ
is the Joint Security Area or JSA.
This is where tourists
can officially enter North Korea
and see their soldiers standing at attention.
If you're American,
you'll need to get there via South Korea,
using an official tour operator.
That part is super important.
Americans have been banned
from entering North Korea since 2017.
Citizens from other countries
can apply for a Visa
and access the DMZ from North Korea.
But it's usually easier from the South.
Make sure to book your appointment
about a week before going,
and
do not forget your passport.
Make sure you're paying attention
to your surroundings.
Things can get intense real fast.
if tensions arise at the border,
your tour could be canceled at any moment.
In 2017,
a North Korean soldier defected at the DMZ.
He drove a military truck toward the South
and crashed into a tree.
North Korean soldiers began firing at him
while he ran out of the truck.
They fired over 40 rounds at the soldier.
He managed to dodge most of them
but was still badly hurt.
The soldier fell unconscious on the grass.
When it looked like he had run out of luck,
South Korean soldiers dragged him to safety.
The soldiers then took him to a hospital,
where he recovered after treatment.
Enjoying your tour so far?
Let's keep moving.
Crossing the border in the JSA
is perfectly legal and part of the experience,
so don't worry.
These blue buildings
are UN Command neutral zones,
inside which the North and South borders
are located.
Here, you can move freely.
One of the buildings,
the United Nations Command Military
Armistice Commission,
or UNCMAC,
is used for the North and South
to have meetings.
You can even pose for a photo
with a South Korean soldier
inside this neutral building.
Do you see that door behind you?
Don't even think about it.
If you cross,
you’ll be alone and in North Korea.
And no one is responsible
for your safety there.
The visit to the DMZ
also comes with some stunning views.
Check out the Dora Observatory
and the Imjingak Nuri Peace Park.
This park reflects the two nations'
painful history
and shows a desire for national reunification.
Here you can also see the Freedom Bridge,
which prisoners used
to return to their country
at the end of the war.
If you want a breathtaking scene,
go to Mount Odu Observatory.
It provides a 360-degree view
across the Korean peninsula.
Up here, you can see the contrast
between the modern cities of South Korea
and the marshes of the North.
You can even see some civilians
in North Korea walking around.
It will feel like being there
without actually setting foot inside.
The tour usually includes a stop
at the unfinished infiltration tunnels
reportedly built by the North.
These tunnels were discovered in 1984.
The longest of these tunnels
is about 1,080 m (5,500 ft) in length.
One of the tunnels is only 44 km (27 mi)
away from Seoul
and it's estimated that it could move
about 30,000 troops per hour.
Don't venture into these tunnels alone,
some of them are still unknown to the South.
You could get lost and never be found.
Ensure that you are respectful at the DMZ.
Don't make gestures that could provoke
North Korean soldiers.
You cannot wave,
signal,
point, or take pictures without permission.
You will also have to follow
a strict dress code
especially if you’re coming
from the south side.
Avoid wearing sandals,
camouflage, or ripped jeans.
South Korean officers will be
very strict with these policies
since photos taken of a poorly dressed person
could be used to produce propaganda.
Nothing like a picture of you
in cargo shorts and crocs
being used as North Korean propaganda.
Remember that soldier
who escaped North Korea?
He made it out alive.
Barely.
Others were not so lucky
and end up dead
or in concentration camps.
And some of them even risk
escaping these prisons
for a little taste of freedom.
First,
you should know that the border with China
is the safest way out,
even if it means crossing a river or a desert.
Discover the stories of the people
who made it out of North Korea,
right here.