Korean DMZ’s Secret Bell: Story Behind the Lifeline for North Korean Defectors

① The South Korean Defector Induction Bell

It seems like South Korea, but it also doesn’t, and somewhat eerie photos have become a topic of discussion. The signboards in the photos bear messages such as “Welcome to the Republic of Korea” and “Welcome for surrender.”

The sentences on the sign include unfamiliar words such as ‘Goa Daesipsio,’ ‘Bureumjong,’ ‘Li Yong,’ and ‘Bureumchong.’ Although written in Korean, it doesn’t seem to be intended for South Koreans.

What can be confirmed from these photos is the ‘Defector Induction Bell’ installed in South Korea. The Defector Induction Bell is an intercom installed alongside signs by the South Korean military to encourage North Korean soldiers to defect.

On October 2, 2012, a North Korean soldier crossed the barbed wire and knocked on the door of a GOP (General Outpost) post, expressing his intention to defect. This event, known as the ‘Knock Defection Incident,’ led to the installation of the Defector Induction Bell.

② Installed in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

So where exactly in the country is the Defector Induction Bell, which is there to escort defectors to South Korea safely?

After World War II, Korea was divided into North and South. The Korean War that broke out in 1950 entered a ceasefire in 1953 with the establishment of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea.

It is in this Demilitarized Zone that the previously mentioned Defector Induction Bell is installed. It is installed on the barbed wire between the South Korean military’s forward outpost (GP) and the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), with dozens of them in place.

The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), designated 2 kilometers on each side from the armistice line, is a demilitarized area established to prevent the risk of armed conflicts between the South Korean and North Korean militaries. As a result, the deployment of troops, placement of weapons, and installation of military facilities are prohibited in this area.

Furthermore, since entering the DMZ requires permission from the Military Armistice Commission, it is almost impossible for non-military personnel to see the Defector Induction Bell in the photos in person.

③ North Korean Bell-ringing Incident

Meanwhile, on June 19, 2014, an incident occurred in the frontline area of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, where 2-3 North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line.

They approached the barbed wire about 600m away from a South Korean GP, pressed the Defector Induction Bell, and then fled. Our military responded upon hearing the sound of the bell, but the North Korean soldiers quickly escaped into the bushes.

They pressed the Defector Induction Bell and pulled out the defector guidance signboard. At the time, inquiries asked, “Isn’t there a problem if such things happen in the DMZ?”

Upon seeing the photo of the propaganda loudspeakers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), netizens expressed various reactions such as “If it were me, I wouldn’t use it because it looks like a trap,” “I was involved in demining operations there during my active duty, and it was scary to see North Korean soldiers right in front of us,” and “Change the phone… using a hammer in the 21st century.”

By. Mia Han