Posted on 05/31/2003 7:58:45 PM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
[Report by Freeper "AmericanInTokyo" from the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), 31 May 2003.]
This is a quick, frontline report for the readers of Free Republic, provided by "AmericanInTokyo". An investigative visit was conducted Saturday (yesterday) by myself and about 25 others to the sensitive/tense Joint Security Area (JSA) just north of Seoul, Korea, which is maintained jointly by the North Koreans and the US/ROK military at the village of Panmunjom on the Korean DMZ at the 38th Parallel.
The trip was significant in view of recent escalating tensions between North Korea and the United States (and South Korea) in terms of North Korean self-stated nuclear development as well as a recent series of (8) provocative incursions (one which happened the day of my DMZ visit) by North Korean 'fishing boats' across the Northern Limit Line (NLL) into South Korean waters, not far, west of Panmunjom. (This trip was about my 20th over a number of years to this location for a briefing and tour).
Here is an abbreviation of the report for "FR":
--Tour was the standard tour provided US military personnel--off duty, civilian personnel and VIPs. A number of Freepers may have taken similiar tours offered either by civilian companies or by official governments.
--We were escorted into the Joint Security Area (JSA) and the Military Armistace Commission (MAC) building with a (new) table in the middle where the Communist North meets with the Free West regularly in a variety of diplomatic, commercial, sports, cultural and military venues. Differing from the past, the microphones are now imbedded in the table top, whereas in the past they were hanging from the ceiling, used to audio-monitor this room 24/7 by both sides. The North side monitors from their building, called "Panmungak" just north of there (out of which their soldiers occaisionally goose step and make the rounds.)
--As usual, it was a good 'dog and pony show' by our presenters. As on many previous occasions, we crossed over by foot briefly into North Korea inside the MAC room (...what can you say?...it is only about two feet but it is technically North Korea).
--I had noticed yesterday that the North Korean flag was no longer on the table (although the UN flag was).
--Although several belligerent KPA (North Korean soldiers) eyed us vigorously through binoculars, none of them came down to the building to peer in through the windows as they usually do. (They can be a combination of intimidation and humor). One knows their psywar games of staring and scowling.
--Visibility was very clear, almost to the North Korean city of "Kaesong" which could be viewed from one of the high-ground US/ROK observation outposts. The huge antenna erected on a mountain just south of Kaesong was visibile (as well as the tall DPRK flagpole of the nearly empty N. Korean Potemkin village of Gijongdong across the DMZ.)
--Comments were made about North Korean artillery tubes arrayed just north of the DMZ facing the South (details not to be relayed here).
--Considerable activity was present in the villages below on the North Korean side. I saw (through high power binoculars) rice planting and other agricultural activity by groups of North Korean farmers (held together in a group next to a large red flag planted near them for propanganda encouragement purposes). Old Soviet tractors were visible.
--Bellicose North Korean guards were skinny as ever. (A steady diet of tree bark and dog chunks does not make for a stout KPA corporal!)
--The usual propaganda broadcasts were made through huge loudspeakers, and the strong relay from Kaesong on 657khz on the AM dial provided a steady stream of (what appeared to me to be) even more heightened Communist vitriol outlining the visit of Kim Jong-il to military units, the glorious 'chuche' (self reliance) and 'songkun' (total Army) policy of the North, not to mention the 'savage' Americans and Japanese imperalists conspirators who are hell bent on destruction of the peaceful socialist North.
--It appeared to me that North Korea had erected new KPA army barracks in the area just north of the building where the 1953 Armistace was signed.
--The North Koreans seem to me to have apparantly erected a few new propaganda slogan signs, large hangul (Korean) characters about the same size as ones in the "Hollywood Sign" of Los Angeles. One of these extolled the 21st Century under Comrade Kim Jong il, and the others likened Americans to dogs.
There was considerable US military activity for normal (due to already publicized US/ROK military training) in the area. ___________ and _________ and _______ and other intriguing military hardware were evident if you looked diligently. I had a nice chat with one of the burly, no-nonsense kick-arse JSA guards from the USA and told him (as I believe many Freepers might also say), 'thanks for the job done here and keep a good eye on those sons of bitches just north of here'. He diplomatically did not answer except perhaps to offer a smile and a nod. (If I am not mistaken, he was from Ohio. And he sure loved cigarettes).
END OF REPORT
Great report - as always - and thanks for letting one of our troops know we appreciate them and what they're doing for us.
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