DMZ Peace Trail opening gives opportunity to experience history and nature

And for those of you interested scenic tours of the treks in South Korea's northernmost border regions are open again.

Cha Yun-kyung reports.

Horogoru Embankment in Yeoncheon was a strategic location during the Three Kingdoms period.

One course on the trail here connects the embankment to an infiltration point where a North Korean guerrilla force came to the south to blow up the Blue House, where the presidential office was located in 1968.

Gyeonggi-do province opened sections of the DMZ Peace Trail last week in Yeoncheon, Gimpo, Goyang and Paju.

"I am a bit nervous since the area is close to North Korea, but it has beautiful scenery and lots to see making it quite meaningful for me to walk here."

The trail courses provide places to visit, pointing to their history and natural resources.

The North Korean border town of Kaesong can be seen from Dora Observatory in Paju.

Also, the Han River Estuary and the North Korean town can be viewed from Gimpo.

Visitors can experience undisturbed nature at Janghang wetlands in Goyang.

"Since the DMZ is a very rare and special place where foreigners from all over the world want to visit, I encourage everyone to feel the special atmosphere here."

Tours can be reserved through the website of the DMZ Peace Trail.

Twenty people can participate per tour, and they must carry an identification card since visitors pass through the military's Civilian Control Line.

Participation costs 10-thousand Korean won.

Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.