North Korean soldiers spied on Prime Minister John Key's every move as he toured the area between North and South Korea yesterday.Mr Key arrived in Seoul yesterday morning and was soon on his way to tour the demilitarised zone (DMZ) -- the 4km strip of la
North Korean soldiers spied on Prime Minister John Key's every move as he toured the area between North and South Korea yesterday.
Mr Key arrived in Seoul yesterday morning and was soon on his way to tour the demilitarised zone (DMZ) -- the 4km strip of land between the border of South and North Korea.
Outside South Korea's Freedom House at the centre of the DMZ were a row of blue and grey buildings. The blue belong to the United Nations and the grey to North Korea.
Through the middle of them is a concrete line that splits North Korea from the South.
As Mr Key toured the South Korean side with his family and delegation North Korean soldiers came down to their side of the line with binoculars to find out what was going on.
South Korean and US soldiers stood puffing their chests on one side and the North Koreans glared from the other.
Mr Key described the situation as unique.
"I don't know how many Kiwis they've seen before, other than the ones in military uniform, but I'm sure they're just taking a bit of a look to see what's going on."
While Mr Key attended a briefing inside on the of the UN buildings the North Koreans peered through the windows.
The DMZ is heavily fortified on both sides. On the south the military defences stretch all the way back to Seoul, home to half of South Korea's 50 million population.
There are two barbed wire fences that run along the side of the Han River which divides Seoul. Soldiers patrol down the middle and man the guard towers throughout the night to catch North Korean "infiltrators".
There are 24 bridges across the river and four more under construction, all are pre-wired so that if Seoul is threatened they can be blown up to prevent the North Korean advance.
Likewise there are concrete blocks standing on poles across the main highway north. They are also wired so they can be dropped down to block the road. In the meantime they serve as advertising billboards.
There are also underwater gates at the mouths of all the smaller rivers that feed into the Han to prevent an underwater attack.
The defence provisions may seem extreme but Seoul lies with the range of North Korea's long-range missiles and their northern neighbours have repeatedly threatened to turn Seoul into a "sea of fire".
Mr Key was told the main issue in North Korea currently was the transfer of power from leader Kim Jong-il to his son.
"That's increasing the potential volatility here on the Korean Peninsula and it's exercising everyone's minds," Mr Key said.
Concerns were heightened following the sinking of the South Korean navy ship Chenoan, Mr Key said.
Recently, New Zealand condemned North Korea for the torpedoing of the naval vessel in which 46 sailors died.
The matter is before the United Nations Security Council.
There have been incidents on and off since the 1953 armistice, Mr Key said.
"This is a military cessation but not a peace pact between the North and South."
The situation between North and South Korea had to be taken seriously, Mr Key said.
New Zealand supported the south in the Korean War and has had a few soldiers contributing to the United Nations mission on the DMZ since then.
Asked if New Zealand was likely to increase the number of military here, currently two, he said it had not been asked.
"Obviously if the situation changed then we would listen to all the advice and consider that but at this point it's really New Zealand playing its part."
New Zealand provides security alongside the United States military.
There are about 28,000 US forces in Korea, about a quarter of their commitment in Afghanistan.
(Kate Chapman travelled to Korea with the help of funding from the Asia New Zealand Foundation)
