A bit of a boyztoyz kind of post this one, more trees, waterfalls and bunny rabbits next time, promise. These photos were taken at the impressive Korean War Museum, a comprehensive one stop shop of everything you'd ever need to kill someone or shock and awe annoying next-door neighbours.
Sale of military hardware is big, big business as is the after sales clean-up. Astonishing that although Samsung couldn't build a reliable VCR during the 90's they now make guided missile frigates. Seriously.
This was the WalMart shopping section. A gift wrapping service was available, khaki only of course.
The gift that keeps on giving. A photo of a photo of Korean children crying over their dead mother.
The commentary throughout the museum had distinct flavors. The first part had quite an objective feel where it felt like a historical categorising of military history but in the modern section the tone was notably more gung-ho and aggressive about the capability and toughness of the present South Korean military.
Notorious S.C.U.D. No wonder he sucked at tennis. Apparently advances in micro-processing mean it's got built-in cougar seeking ability, able to make a surgical panty strike on any milf within 2000 miles.
This is the actual treaty signed by Japan to vote them off Korea. In return the Japanese revoked any fashion rights held by the Koreans. Both treaties are still current.
Memorial hall 1. No such thing as an SBD here.
There was a stunning amount of heavy metal hardware around the place including a massive B52 bomber, jets, choppers, rockets, tanks, artillery and of course the obligatory half-track rescued from an episode of the A-team.
Given the war in the 50's it wasn't surprising there was a stack of captured North Korean (mainly Russian made) gear in the "Jong-il" parking lot.
I'm a bit worried there are still North Korean soldiers hiding inside the captured machines, chowing down on trail mix, peeing into a whiskey bottle and waiting for the order to roll down through Seoul proper.
The Korean War was a truly united nations effort but things got tense when Luxembourg took out the prize for best flag.
I had no idea that countries like Turkey and Colombia had participated but they say after the Colombians showed up people were more interested in grinning than winning.
The Korean peninsula has a long history of bloodshed. International wars in the past 50 years have been small by comparison, but with much greater potential for destruction.
There are theories nuclear weapons have actually been successful as deterrence against large scale confrontations. I think a globalised economy and the resulting economic interdependence is significant as well.
Arguably there is also greater value placed on human life in the present day. Burying a couple of thousand workers alive on completion of a structure, beheading the enemy and sending unarmed "volunteers" into battle is generally no longer sanctioned. In the modern age far more time and effort goes into avoiding collateral damage so that brochures arrive safely.
Military training starts early in Korea. This kid got a cammo nappies and a stealth-trike for her 1st birthday.
"Yez, yez...kill ze stinky teletubby".
Be well.
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