I visited the Demilitarized Zone early in January with four others from the Haven. It was an amazing experience that I'll have to chop up because there's much to be said. The overall jist is that the North Korean government is actively attempting to take over the South. It's strange to see people of the same nation in a position of such extreme and determined war. America had it's civil war, but they fought and it was done.
The Republic of Korea (South) has done several things in hopes of unification under a free and democratic government. They built a reunification complex for families in the North to visit the families in the South. However, no families are allowed out of N. Korea because they might try to defect. (more on that later) Economic deals have been made for RoK businessmen to build factories in the North to provide income for the populous. Of course, the pay goes to the government prior to "dispersal."
The RoK also built a full-size railroad and station with plans to operate completely through North Korea into China and Russia. The station is manned daily, heated, and maintained for the time when the war will end. There is also a display of railroad ties that the Korean President and President W. Bush signed at the station's dedication.
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| "May this railroad unite Korean families." - George W. Bush |
I was able to take the opportunity to shake the big guy's hand.
And I thank God for protection. I slipped in the snow. The train stopped in time.
Does the train actually run right now through North Korea? Or does the train not go there in fear of the North keeping the train?
ReplyDeleteha ha. no, it does run into the north. this, and other things, the RoK government has done as tokens of good will and for the desire for peace. the north korea government as replied with threats of destruction, digging tunnels underneath the DMZ to surprise attack the south, launching ambushes across the dmz, and killing guards (US and RoK) in the Joint Security Area (an area with both S and N Korean guards which is used for all diplomatic meetings and is chaired by members of the Korean War council). Kim Jong Il to this day plots to take over the south and openly makes it his sole aim.
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