DMZ, may 2009, just before NK tested its second nuclear bomb.. Q: Do you often meet Americans who are on the opposite side (South Korea)? A= Our men who are in service are not allowed to speak. Q: But the officers from both sides, do they meet? A= Of course, the soldiers on the other side are our brothers. But the Americans always intervene, so they always see things from their point of view. The Americans are the masters. Q= Why aren’t the americans on the other side right now ? What time is it now ? A= It’s half past twelve (Eric understands and makes the eating movement, the translator and the colonel start laughing) Q= We learned in Europe that two american journalists entered north korean territory without authorisations. Can he explain what happened? A= The translator doesn’t even let the colonel answer, he quickly answers in his place, we understand that it’s a delicate subject. The colonel cannot know because this took place in the border further up north, whereas we’re in the south, it’s not the same. Q= Could you explain the north korean side of what happened regarding a supposed missile or telecommunication satellite ? A= Normally, launching an artificial satellite is within every country’s rights. But before the launch we warned all the countries that we were about to launch this artificial satellite for scientific tests. No one can criticize this satellite launch for it’s a question of sovereignty isn’t it? It’s about self determination. Q= And why was there so much criticism from the West? A= We launched an artificial satellite, but why are the others still saying that we’ve launched missiles? They can’t stop themselves from spreading these rumours, and we don’t understand this, these false rumours. We are very unhappy, because if you look at this problem from our point of view, we did everything by the book. Q= By what the tourists are they the most astonished when they come here? A= Most of the tourists who come here are very interested by the demarcation line, all the tourists say that when they see the military demarcation line, they can understand the suffering the Korean people have to endure, being separated artificially by the Americans. They all leave hoping that korea will be reunited, not by war, but by a more peaceful way. They also say that the American troops must be removed by any means possible from south korea. Q= So it’s when you come here that you’re convinced? A= Yes The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and the east end lying north of it. It is 155 miles (248 km) long and approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) wide, and is the most heavily armed border in the world. This isolation has created as a byproduct one of the most well-preserved pieces of temperate land in the world!! The 2 countries have signed armistice but NOT the peace... La Korean Demilitarized Zone, KMZ, est une bande de terre qui court le long de la péninsule coréenne pour séparer le nord et le sud le long du 38eme parallèle. Les deux pays ont signés l’armistice, mais pas la Paix. La frontière est marquée par une bordure en béton. Seuls les coréens du nord continuent à assurer une présence physique, les américains et les sud coréens ont construit un immense bâtiment d’où ils surveillent via cameras les mouvements du Nord. Franchir la frontière revient à se faire tirer dessus. Peu de nord coréens osent franchir le 38eme parallèle car les représailles envers la famille restante, les voisins et les collègues de travail sont immédiates. © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com