Third Tunnel of Aggression Page - InfoMap

Third Tunnel of Aggression

Infrastructure Tunnel

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The Third Tunnel of Aggression (Korean: 제3땅굴; also known as the Third Infiltration Tunnel or 3rd Tunnel) is one of four known tunnels under the border between North Korea and South Korea, located south of Panmunjom, just 44 kilometers (27 miles) from Seoul. Discovered in October 1978, the tunnel's existence was initially detected following an underground explosion in June 1978, likely caused by the tunnellers who had excavated 435 meters (1,427 feet) beneath the southern side of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It took four months to precisely locate and dig an intercept tunnel. The incomplete tunnel is 1,635 meters (1.0 mile) long, with a maximum height of 1.95 meters (6 feet 5 inches) and a width of 2.1 meters (6 feet 11 inches). It runs through bedrock at a depth of about 73 meters (240 feet) below ground. Designed for a surprise attack on Seoul, it could reportedly accommodate 30,000 troops per hour along with light weaponry. Following its discovery, the United Nations Command accused North Korea of violating the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement, and South Korea labeled it a 'tunnel of aggression.' Initially, North Korea denied constructing the tunnel, later claiming it was part of a coal mine, though the tunnel's walls are visibly granite, not sedimentary rock typical of coal deposits. To date, four such tunnels have been discovered, but there are believed to be up to twenty more. While the South Korean Armed Forces continue to search for infiltration tunnels, their significance has diminished due to the increased effectiveness of North Korean long-range artillery and missiles. The tunnel is now a tourist attraction, though it remains heavily guarded. Visitors can enter either by walking down a steep incline from a lobby with a gift shop or by riding a rubber-tyred train with padded seats. Photography is prohibited inside the tunnel, and the Military Demarcation Line is blocked by three concrete barricades. Tourists are allowed to walk up to the third barricade, with the second barricade visible through a small window in the third.

Inserted: 12-08-2024 22:08:51

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Infrastructures in North Korea

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Traveling along the Korean Demilitarized Zone

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DMZ

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