What North Korean defectors think of North Korea

I'll find far less attractive people attractive but I do have high standards when bandying about the word 'stunning'.

 

BBC 4 10pm

'North Korean Kidnap'

Docu-drama thing about Kim Jong il planned kidnap of South Koreas Most famous actress.

For those interested !?

 

Cheers.

 

Ok....

Just bumped this as there was some discussion about N Korea ( keep watching the news folks) and I mentioned I would be visiting the n/s Korea border zone again.


Well I have been working in China again.. now in Japan .., but had a chance s few days ago to stop of in South Korea and have a couple of days to myself.. I pre-booked to visit the DMZ ( de-militarised zone) at the n:s border having done so 8 years ago, but this time armed with smart phone ...

This tour is one of the most surreal you can do on the planet. It basically takes you on a military escorted tour of the most volatile border area on the planet.

This tour can be called off in s instant ( and even while in progress) if political or military situations dictate. You have to register passport details several days in advance and s Korean nationals are not allowed to join ( fear of defection) along with a long list of 'iffy' nationalities that need pre-authorisation.

It takes around 70 minutes to travel from Seoul to the southern demarcation:fence which requires passport check and permit sand is manned by s Korean soldiers . This is roughly 20 km from n Korea and South Korean citizens are not allowed beyond this point,

The DMZ.. demilitarised zone is in fact one of the most militarised places on the planet . It's just that peace is 'sort of' kept via a mutual distrust of each other and the knowledge that more arms and bigger arms are available .

It took 5 passport checks to finally get to the actual border line at the DMz,

This is a military border area jointly controlled by the South Korean army and the USA infantry . There is a 2 kmexclysiin fenxrd zine to the north and south of the actual demarcated border line.

Luckily the tour on my booked day went ahead! Kim Jong Un had been doing a bit of sabre rattling but thankfully not enough to spanner if up as iknly had one day clear as was booked on flight to Japan early next day.

At the DMz ( 400 metre. From bordr) we had s compulsory briefing by s US soldier who was our guide.


First was the briefing about three history of the area and most importantly what we vouldnit couldn't do...

Photography is the BIG issue... you can.. it's just about where and when.
When you book on the tour you are advised that you must dress smartly ..
The North Koreans video any scruffy tourists from their sides and use it in propaganda etc... supposedly .



We are advised how to behAve, where to look, what not to do and where and what and when we can photograph .




This Is the MAC buildings On the birder.

The blue is the UN colour and these huts are used for cross-border discussions .

The building in the background is in n Korea and is their own ' observation post ' built In the Chinese municipal style of architecture ( sorry... my trade , can't help bring sarky)

At this point t we are being photographed. And videod... apparently the 'Kim's' use google to see who's who and create propaganda which is why the shorts, tats and tees are banned.

In the bavlgtound there is a North Korean guard stood watching but there are several on the roof eithcsnrrsd and binoculars. Apparently they come down now and then and flick the vees just for a laugh !


The guard (us mp) is going through the dos and donts)

note the geotagging by my iPhone...
puts me in n Korea but is officially about 10 m away... the concrete stripe running left to right at the middle of the huts is the actual bordr.



Into the mac buildings where the generals meet...

The table is in the middle so half is in South Korea and half in North Korea.

I am standing in both countries as I take the photo...


This is the South korea guards at the northern end .. I think the 'bobs' ( ad the Americans call them) weren't out of bed yet)

These guys look ultra fit and surely are.. they stand in a tae-kwon pose to look aggressive.. they're only skinny guys but it works. I still got a photo with them though!

 

Don't find her stunning in the slightest, either. She's alright.

 

You take that back or I will shoot you with anti aircraft artillery.

 

* tart.

 

While the Guide on your tour may have been making it up, there are more than enough Defectors and Refugees from the North living in South Korea so there is no need to make it up, also one of the main problems North Koreans have, well I only know this about the ones living in South Korea, is fitting and and being accepted, I was stationed there for a few months in 2010 which turned out to be pretty * up timing because this happened https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardment_of_Yeonpyeong
I remember we had come back from our afternoon run and were getting ready for dinner when our captain burst in and told us to put our gear on and get our weapons ready because there had been some battle between the North and the South and we spent 30 terrifying minutes preparing for a war which thankfully never came

 

He said slightly overweight .

 

I find North Korea to be incredibly interesting. Just what is going on in that country? Those people are severely brainwashed into thinking that there way of life is amazing.

I'd love to learn more about if if you guys have any videos, images, articles etc.

 

Have you seen Under The Sun? It's on Netflix.

 

Look for 'DPRK The Land of Whispers' online. It's a good watch.