Road to North Korea - No Camera, No Camera, No Camera

The road from the South Korean border to the Kumgang Mountain takes you through the DMZ and what is described as a 'North Korean military base' though it has villages and farmland in it too.

From the minute you get on the bus you are told no pictures allowed. They tell you that many times. Here's the one picture I managed to sneak of the DMZ:




There is not much to see in the DMZ, it looks like a nature preserve with cranes and other birds flying around. We were told that other than the road, and the train track bed, the area is pretty much all filled with land mines.

After about a ten minute ride we arrive at the North Korean border. We are shuttled into a tent where we must line up according to a number on our visas. When you get to the border agent you realize he has your picture printed out with information on you. Not too much conversation though:
"CNN?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"First time?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Have nice day," he said, then stamped my passport.

I was now officially in North Korea.