Bridge of No Return

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Bridge of No Return
Bridge of no return.jpg
Korean name
Hangul 돌아올 수 없는 다리
Revised Romanization Doraol su eomneun dari
McCune-Reischauer Toraol su ŏmnŭn tari

Located in the Joint Security Area (JSA), the so-called "Bridge of No Return" crosses the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) between North Korea and South Korea. It was used for prisoner exchanges at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The name originates from the fact that prisoners were given the choice to remain in the country of their captivity or cross over to the other country. But if they chose to cross the bridge, they would never be allowed to return.

The last time the bridge was used for prisoner exchanges was in 1968 when the crew of the USS Pueblo was released and ordered to cross into South Korea via the bridge. The bridge was actively used by the North Koreans up until the Axe Murder Incident in August 1976, at which time the United Nations Command demanded that the MDL within the JSA be enforced and clearly marked. Within 72 hours the North Koreans had built a new bridge on the northern half of the JSA and the Bridge of No Return was no longer used.

The Military Demarcation Line runs through the middle of the bridge. At the end of either side of the bridge are guard houses of the respective countries. The North Korean building is called KPA#4 while the United Nations Command (UNC) checkpoint was called CP#3 (it was abandoned in the mid-1980s). CP#3, which is surrounded by trees, was only visible from one other UNC site during the summer months, OP#5 (now renamed to CP#3). The Korean People's Army (KPA) had made numerous attempts to grab UNC personnel from the old CP#3 and drag them across the bridge into North Korean territory. Because of this proximity to North Korean territory, being surrounded on all access routes by North Korean checkpoints, and repeated attempts to kidnap the UNC personnel working there, CP#3 was often referred to as "The Loneliest Outpost in the World". As of 2003, the bridge is considered in need of repair. According to a report on CNN, the US government has offered to fix the bridge or even replace it, but North Korea has denied permission.[1]

The bridge is also portrayed in the beginning of the James Bond film, Die Another Day, where Bond and Zao are swapped (however, as the photos show, there are no rows of concertina wire, bunkers, machine guns, or spotlights anywhere around the bridge, as depicted in the movie). It was also portrayed in the South Korean movie Joint Security Area, where the shooting of two North Korean guards becomes the focus of an investigation and of the movie.

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[edit] Major events

This operation was a test case for prisoner repatriation, one of the four main issues of contention during two years of negotiation. 605 sick, wounded, and/or injured UNC prisoners were exchanged for 6,030 sick or injured Communist prisoners.[2][3]
Based on the success of the repatriations undertaken earlier, a general exchange of prisoners began in late April. During Operation Big Switch, prisoners were brought to Panmunjom, on the banks of the Sachong River. Each prisoner was then asked if he wished to cross the river and return to his countrymen or remain with his captors. Once the choice was made there was no turning back—hence the name Bridge of No Return. During this time 13,444 UNC prisoners returned to UNC countries, and 89,493 KPA and CPV prisoners returned to their Communist countries. In March, 1953, a further 25,000 KPA soldiers held in ROKA camps had been released into South Korea on President Syngman Rhee's orders in an attempt to wreck the armistice negotiations.[4][5][6]
US Army soldier posing during a ceremony at the middle of the bridge, behind the flags of UN, the US and ROK, while two guards are facing the north.
US Army soldier posing during a ceremony at the middle of the bridge, behind the flags of UN, the US and ROK, while two guards are facing the north.

[edit] Ceremonies on the bridge

U.S. Army soldiers who are stationed at Camp Bonifas or Camp Liberty Bell in the Joint Security Area are offered the opportunity to have their promotion or reenlistment ceremonies held in the center of the Bridge of No Return. The bridge is split in half by the Military Demarcation Line which marks where South Korean territory ends and North Korean territory begins. During a U.S. or ROK (Republic of Korea) ceremony, two guards are posted at the Demarcation Line facing north.

[edit] Gallery

The Bridge of No Return, Dec. 1975

Looking across The Bridge of No Return, Mar. 1976

Joint Security Area in 1976

Southern end of the bridge

View of the bridge, 2006

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dangerous divide. CNN transcripts September 2003. Retrieved on 2006-01-14.
  2. ^ Bernstein, Barton. “The Struggle over the Korean Armistice: Prisoners of Repatriation?” in Child of Conflict: The Korean-American Relationship 1943-1953,ed. Bruce Cumings (1983).
  3. ^ U.S. Army Forces, Far East, 8086th Army Unit, Military History Detachment.Operation Little Switch, 4 vols., n.d.
  4. ^ Syngman Rhee Biography: Rhee Attacks Peace Proceedings
  5. ^ The Korean War: Years of Stalemate, pg 30
  6. ^ THE KOREAN WAR 1950-1953, pg 245

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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