SIXTY YEARS SINCE THE KOREAN WAR TRUCE WAS SIGNED

THE ARMISTICE ENDING 

THE KOREAN WAR 

WAS SIGNED 

July 27, 1953 

CHECKPOINT AT 

THE DMZ 

South Korean side of 

the Demilitarized Zone 

Some reflections on the day, here and here and here. 

More DMZ here and here and here and here and here and here and  here. 

SIXTY-THREE YEARS SINCE THE KOREAN WAR STARTED; STILL NO PEACE TREATY

NORTH KOREA 

INVADES 

SOUTH KOREA 

June 25, 1950 

NIGHT FALLS ON SHOPS 

NEAR THE SOUTH KOREAN SIDE 

OF THE DMZ 

(Demilitarized Zone) 

An account of the invasion can be found here; an overview of the war ("police action") here. 

BRIDGE ON THE RIVER HAN...THE NIGHT VIEW II

NIGHT BRIDGE 

WITH TRAIN 

A TRAIN RUNS THROUGH IT 
A RHAPSODY IN 
ORANGE AND BLUE 

Another view here 

SEVEN WOMEN: THE CIVILIAN SIDE OF THE DMZ

DORASAN 

STATION 

MEMORIAL 

ON THE SOUTH KOREAN 

SIDE OF THE DMZ 

More on the Dorasan (Mt. Dora) station here 

More on the DMZ here and here and here and here and here 

DEFECTION AT THE DMZ

AFTERMATH OF 

A BLOODY DEFECTION? 

A CHECKPOINT ON THE SOUTH KOREAN 
SIDE OF THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE (DMZ) 

On Saturday, October 6, 2012, a North Korean soldier "on guard duty at the border dividing the two Koreas" was reported to have shot his way to freedom, or at least to the southern side of the border, by killing both his platoon and squad leaders. 

Today, October 8, the soldier-defector, said to be a sergeant, was reported to be being questioned by "a joint interrogation team from the South's military and the National Intelligence Service." 

With a million soldiers, a "million or so land mines and miles of barbed wire" on a two-and-a-half mile-wide "demilitarized zone" stretching 160 miles east-west across the Korean Peninsula, defections across the DMZ are said to be "rare." 

And so far, apparently being handled in a low-key fashion -- on both sides. 

More DMZ here and here and here 

A QUIET CORNER OF THE "SECRET GARDEN"

IN THE 

"SECRET GARDEN" 
II 

THE REAR GARDEN (HUWON) 

CHANGDUK (CHANGDEOK) PALACE 

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 

In the capital, a mega-city, and what you hear 

is the rustling of the wind, and birds; and insects? 

Another view of the Garden here  

TRAIN TO NOWHERE? OR TO THE FUTURE? MT. DORA IN THE DMZ

TRAIN STATION 

READY TO ROLL 

FROM PYONGYANG 
TO SEOUL? 

Dorasan (Mt. Dora) Station 
DMZ, South Korea 

from: The sign above the men's heads 

"To visit this station, you can take a train from Imjingang station. 

"Because Dorasan station is located in the Civilian Control Area, you must apply for the admission at the ticket office in the Imjingang station square. 

"You can also there apply for tour package linking to the DMZ.  You must bring your ID." 

Stars and Stripes ran an interesting piece about the Mt. Dora Station by Matthew M. Burke (January 11, 2012); a few quotes: 

Under the watchful eye of a handful of workers and stern South Korean soldiers, travelers wandered about the train station admiring the artwork and advertisements that adorned the walls of the $40 million facility. 

...

But there were no trains scheduled to pass through this day, or any other day for that matter. 

Dorasan Station sits just over the South Korean side of the border in one of the most dangerous and militarized regions on the planet — the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. 

More KOREA here 

SAILING BLUE ON THE RIVER HAN

NIGHTLIGHTS 

& 

NIGHT LIFE 

ON THE 

HAN RIVER 

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 

Another river view here 

NIGHTFALL AT SEOUL STATION II

SEOUL STATION 

AT DUSK 

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 

Nightfall at Seoul Station I is here 

NIGHTFALL AT SEOUL STATION I

CONCOS 

THE GALLERIA 

SEOUL STATION 
Seoul, South Korea 

Nightfall at Seoul Station II is here  

A BIT OF SERENITY FOR SUNDAY: IN THE "SECRET GARDEN" OF CHANGDUK PALACE

IN THE 

"SECRET GARDEN" 

CHANGDUK PALACE 

(CHANGDEOK PALACE) 

Seoul, South Korea 

The Garden is formally called the Huwon (Rear Garden) 

The Palace is a World Heritage Site 

Another view here  

BRIDGE ON THE RIVER HAN ... THE NIGHT VIEW I

NIGHTTIME 

ON THE HAN RIVER 

LOOKING UP 

FROM DOWN 

Seoul, South Korea 

Sailing on the river 
at night here 

SMILES OF A SUMMER'S ALMOST-TWILIGHT...ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE DMZ

TWO SHOPKEEPERS 

BEFRIEND 

A WEARY TRAVELER  

ON THE WAY BACK 

FROM THE KOREAN 

DEMILITARIZED ZONE 

IN THE KYONGBOK PALACE THRONE ROOM

A VIEW OF  THE KYONGBOK 

PALACE THRONE ROOM 

DETAILS FROM THE  

GEUNJEONGJEON THRONE HALL 

of the 

Gyeongbok (Kyongbok) Palace 

Seoul, South Korea 

NIGHTTIME AT THE INCHEON AIRPORT

EMPTY IS THE AIRPORT 
AT NIGHT 
INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA 

SEEN THROUGH THE WINDOW 
OF THE IN-AIRPORT HOTEL 

LET'S DANCE TO SATURDAY: B-BOYS AT THE PALACE II

B-BOYS AT THE PALACE 

"LAST FOR ONE" 
GYEONGBOK PALACE 
(Kyongbok Palace) 
Seoul, South Korea 
one week ago Saturday 

Much more here 

"ON GUARD" AT THE DMZ

ART ON GUARD 

AT THE DMZ 

ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE 

OF THE KOREAN BORDER 

WHAT DO YOU SEE AT THE DMZ?

AT THE 

DEMILITARIZED ZONE 

ON THE SOUTH KOREAN 

SIDE OF THE BORDER 

Looking Northward 

Standing on the South Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), above a valley, seeing what there is to be seen.  High-power binoculars provided (fixed at the wall; see above).  For a price.  No photographs allowed at the wall, or for several feet in front of it.  Hold high the camera. 

B-BOYS AT THE PALACE I

SATURDAY MOVES 

"LAST FOR ONE" 
Gyeongbok Palace 
(Kyongbok Palace) 
Seoul, South Korea 

More Moves here 

SIXTY YEARS AFTER THE KOREAN WAR BREAKS OUT, June 25, 1950

SIXTY YEARS AFTER

THE KOREAN WAR

BREAKS OUT

June 25, 1950

DUELING TVs #3

October 9, 2006

North Korea Conducts

First Nuclear Test