Message

i was there in the early 1990s. the border bisects each building with about 10' x 10' area on each side of the line. at least when i was there, one was free to go to any part of the building. the risk was that north koreans were free to enter their side at any time. i agree with mike's comment about it being a scary place. i stayed pretty close to the line. not even sure that one can tour the buildings now.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jesper Nielsen [mailto:jesniel@...]
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 3:10 PM
To: BoundaryPoint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [BoundaryPoint] Re: Zoomable picture N-S Korea

How far into N Korea in the bulding are you allowed to walk?

Jesper

----- Original Message -----

From: nj55er

To: BoundaryPoint@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, November 29, 2004 2:31 PM

Subject: [BoundaryPoint] Re: Zoomable picture N-S Korea

--- In BoundaryPoint@yahoogroups.com, "Jesper Nielsen" <jesniel@i...> wrote: > > > Does anybody have the knowledge to identify the building with the famous border through table? > > And also where does the border actually go? > > Jesper <<<Hi Jesper: I had the privilege of visiting Panmunjom in 1980 while stationed in Korea on temporary duty with the U.S. Navy. As you ride north from Seoul you pass by and through many groups of barriers, tank traps, and the like, which grow more numerous as you approach the DMZ (DeMilitarized Zone). The area at Panmunjom is known as the Joint Security Area (JSA), and was at one time open for persons from either side to walk about freely. After several fatal incidents, the only remaining area for "free" travel into both North and South Korea is the interior of the single building labeled as "MAC"in the photos Lowell gave the links to in his reply to you. The famous green-felt covered table is there, with the border marked by a piece of wire layed over the middle of it. Small U.N. and North Korean flags sit on their respective sides of the table, with the North Korean flag always a bit taller. After many years of one-upsmanship over the height of the flags, the U.N. gave up and let the North Koreans have their way. The building is very small--no more than fifteen feet long and maybe ten feet wide. So you get the opportunity to enter North Korea, but only inside the building. All in all a very scary place. Mike Schwartz