We have completed our 102 mile run along the North-South Divide and have reached the Westernmost checkpoint at Kaesong.

General Choi always dreamt of seeing his country reunited; despite being born in North Korea he always saw himself simply as “Korean” and deeply hoped that the Tae Kwon-Do he developed would play a part in Korea’s unification.

Pattern Tong Il was created in Malaysia in the early 1960’s as the final pattern of Ch’ang Hon Tae Kwon-Do, representing the unification of North and South Korea into one nation. Some of the movements of this pattern are said to be significant; the first two moves symbolising the two Korea’s being divided for too long, the third move and change in tempo supposedly representing North Korea’s instigation of the Korean War, the various stamps symbolising Choi’s anger and frustration, and the high twin vertical punch with stamp on move 38 representing the breaking of the 38^th parallel. Interestingly, pattern Tong Il had the highest number of revisions out of all the patterns. Perhaps it was Choi wanting it to better represent his dream, perhaps it was just due to technical advances in Tae Kwon-Do, we will never know for sure.

Sadly, Choi passed away on 15^th June 2002, with his dream remaining just that; but the patterns remain a reminder that he was not alone in his dream. From the creation of the world and the formation of the Korea in Chon Ji and Dan Gun, through Korean history, it would seem poetic to finish on Tong Il; but that it neither the final pattern in our Tae Kwon-Do, nor the end of our journey.

We are celebrating our arrival at the last checkpoint of the North-South Divide with 102 Ab Splits and continue a very brief 6 miles north to visit Kaesong’s famous bridge.

It’s been a delightful 154 miles; the weather has been lovely (mostly) and Rich has finally found his trainers! We now arrive at the Eastern side of the North-South Divide, at the Mount Kumgang Checkpoint.

When Japan withdrew from Korea in 1945 following their surrender at the end of World War II, the USA, Soviet Union, China and Great Britain decided to run Korea for 5 years under a Four Power Trusteeship, after which Korea would become independent again. The country was divided into two halves along the 38^th parallel, from Mount Kumgang west across the country, with the Soviet Union occupying the North and USA occupying the South. General Choi chose to join the South Korean army because of his opposition to communism, and in 1946 was commissioned as a 2^nd Lieutenant.

The Soviet Union withdrew most of its forces from North Korea in 1948 and unification talks began, but South Korea’s new President, Syngman Rhee, was a hard-line anti-communist and wasn’t keen. Both sides began to fear the other’s true intention was to take over the other with their own government, and talks remained unsuccessful.

Despite withdrawing most of its forces from North Korea, the Soviet Union left many tanks, aircraft and heavy weapons, unlike the USA, who feared any heavy weaponry left in South Korea would not be used solely for internal peacekeeping. This notably weakened South Korea, and led to Kim-Il Sung’s forces invading South Korea on 25^th June 1950 in the start of the Korean War. The Korean War lasted for just over 3 years, during which time General Choi had reached the rank of Brigadier General. The United Nations intervened in the war, allowing the US Navy and Air Force to assist South Korea. Eventually an armistice was suggested by India and ceasefire finally ensued on 27^th July 1953. Battle lines were drawn approximately where they had begun along the 38^th parallel and so around this the Demilitarized Zone was established, 2.5miles wide.

We will mark our arrival with 154 Bulgarian Split Squats before continuing 102 miles west along the North-South Divide.