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Incursion tunnels

Soldiers from the United Nations Command on observational operations in South Korea. Starting on November 15, 1974, the South discovered four tunnels leading under the DMZ. The first of the tunnels was discovered by a South Korean Army patrol, noticing steam rising from the ground. The initial discovery was met with machine gun fire from North Korean soldiers. Five days later, during a subsequent exploration of this tunnel, U.S. Navy Commander Robert M. Ballinger and ROK Marine Corps Major Kim Hah Chul were killed in an explosion triggered from North Korea, along with the wounding of six additional United Nations Command personnel, five American and one South Korean. This first tunnel was about 3 by 4 feet (0.9 m × 1.2 m) and extended over 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) beyond the Military Demarcation Line (MDL). When the first tunnel was discovered, it was reinforced with concrete slabs, electric power and lighting, weapons storage and sleeping areas and had a narrow gauge railway with carts, capable of allowing approximately 2,000 soldiers per hour to traverse it. The second was discovered on March 19, 1975, of similar length, between 50 and 160 meters (160 and 520 ft) below ground, but was larger than the first, approximately 2 by 2 meters (6.6 ft × 6.6 ft). The third tunnel was discovered on October 17, 1978. Unlike the previous two, the third tunnel was discovered following a tip off from a North Korean defector. This tunnel is about 1,600 meters (5,200 ft) long and about 150 meters (490 ft) below ground.  A fourth tunnel was discovered on March 3, 1990. It is almost identical in structure to the second and the third tunnels...

*Travel Tips

Tourists who want to tour Dorasan Observatory and the 3rd tunnel, have to have a passport and make a reservation in advance at the DMZ ticket box located in the Imjingak parking lot.

Tourists can tour the 3rd tunnel, Dorasan Observatory, Mt. Dorasan and Unification Park by shuttle bus. Soldiers act as guides on this package tour. Only Korean speaking guides are available if you make your reservation here, so foreigners should contact a travel agency to arrange an English speaking guide in advance.

Private cars and taxies are not permitted. Only designated shuttle buses can enter because it is located in the demilitarized zone.

Closed  :  Open all year round (Gyeonggi Pyeonghwa Center closed on Mondays)
Operating Hours  :  Gyeonggi Pyeonghwa Center 10:00 - 18:00

Directions

* Sangam DMC Station, Seoul Subway line 6 or Seoul Station, Seoul Subway line 1 & 4 >> Taransfer to Gyeongui line >> Get off at Munsan Station >> Get the tour train towards Dorasan Mt. >> Get off at Iimjingang River
* Seoul Station, Seoul Subway line 1 & 4 or Gwanghwamun Station, Seoul Subway line 5 >> Take the red bus #9710 >> Get off at Munsan Bus Terminal >> Take the city bus #58 >> Get off at Imjingak
* Bus: From Munsan Intercity Bus Terminal, take city bus No. 94 bound for Imjingak (runs every 30 min / 10-15 min ride).
* Taxi: Takes 10 min from Munsan Intercity Bus Terminal.
* Subway: From Seoul Station, take the subway Gyeongui Line and get off at Munsan Station (runs 1 times an hour, 05:50-23:20). Take a train and get off at Imjingang Station (10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00). Walk 600m.

Incursion tunnels

Entrance to the North Korean-dug 4th Infiltration Tunnel, Korean DMZ.
Since November 15, 1974, the South has discovered that four tunnels crossing the DMZ have been dug by North Korea.
This is indicated by the orientation of the blasting lines within each tunnel. Upon their discovery, North Korea claimed that the tunnels were for coal mining; however, no coal has been found in the tunnels, which are dug through granite, but some of the tunnel walls have been painted black to give the appearance of anthracite.
The tunnels are believed to have been planned as a military invasion route by North Korea.
Each shaft is large enough to permit the passage of an entire infantry division in one hour, though the tunnels are not wide enough for tanks or vehicles.
All the tunnels run in a north-south direction and do not have branches. Following each discovery, engineering within the tunnels has become progressively more advanced.
For example, the third tunnel sloped slightly upwards as it progressed southward, to prevent water stagnation.
Today, visitors may visit the second, third and fourth tunnels through guided tours