Visit Korea's DMZ. the world's most fortified border

NORTH & SOUTH KOREA // To set foot in totalitarian North Korea without going there, visit Korea's DMZ (Demilitarised Zone). This heavily guarded, landmine-lined buffer, 240km (150 miles) long and 4km (2.5 miles) wide, cuts through the peninsula, dividing it into two countries. Join a tour from Seoul to the Joint Security Area, where blue office buildings straddle the ceasefire line, guarded by South Korean forces and the UN Command. Inside, you cross momentarily into North Korea's territory, where intimidating soldiers peer through the glass at you.

Can tourists visit the DMZ in South Korea?

Travelers can only visit the DMZ as part of an organized guided tour, which generally includes the opportunity to see the Joint Security Area (JSA). Visitors can also see North and South Korean soldiers guarding their respective sides of the DMZ.

What is the purpose of the demilitarized zone in Korea?

It was created as a buffer zone between North and South Korea under the terms of the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement, an agreement between North Korea, China and the United Nations Command. Korean DMZ marked in red area.

What happened at the DMZ in Korea?

The Korean DMZ conflict, also referred to by some as the Second Korean War, was a series of low-level armed conflicts between North Korean forces and South Korean and United States forces that took place primarily on the Korean DMZ between 1966 and 1969. . .

Can you take pictures at the DMZ South Korea?

Visitors can take photos, but must walk and stand where instructed, and cannot wave or make other objectionable gestures. They can legally cross the DMZ, but only inside the blue-roofed Military Armistice Commission huts where the 1953 armistice was negotiated.

How far is Seoul from the DMZ?

The DMZ is a 148-mile-long strip that includes territories from North and South Korea. It is about 35 miles from the South Korean capital, Seoul, and lies along the 38th parallel, the line that separates the two countries, along which most of the Korean War took place.

Is it safe to tour DMZ?

The basics. Even with its past, this area is quite safe for travelers and is one of the most attractive day trip options from Seoul. Travelers can only visit the DMZ as part of an organized guided tour, which generally includes the opportunity to see the Joint Security Area (JSA).