The most heavily guarded tourist destination in the world is just miles from the Winter Olympics

PANMUNJOM, Demilitarized Zone – The DMZ is frequently described as the most heavily armed border in the world.

It is also one of South Korea’s most popular tourist attractions, drawing up to a million visitors a year to various points along the 160-mile long dividing line with North Korea.

“It’s a safe place for tourists,” said Stephen Tharp, a retired Army officer who has written a series of guidebooks on the DMZ.

The 2018 Winter Olympics, where many venues are only about 40 miles from the DMZ, has sharpened interest in the tours. Overall numbers on DMZ visits are not available, but Tharp said anecdotal evidence suggest that the Olympics has led to an increase in visits from foreigners.

The DMZ is the tense place that visitors expect, but tourists also find souvenir stores, selling T-shirts, coffee mugs, golf clubs and other DMZ-branded merchandise.

Source: usatoday