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Riding with South Korea’s Marine Corps

Al Jazeera embarks on a rare tour of a South Korean base stationed just a kilometre away from the enemy – North Korea

SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
A demonstration showing how South Korean marines rapidly storm an an enemy's shores [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
By Joel Lawrence
Published On 14 Jun 2016

Gimpo, South Korea – Being a South Korean marine is dangerous work here, with forces from decades-old rival North Korea only a kilometre away. 

Al Jazeera was among a few foreign media outlets invited on a rare tour to South Korean Marine Corps’ 2nd Division in Gimpo, about 30km northwest of the capital, Seoul.

The North and its military is just across the Han River.

The marines’ main task in the event of war is to conduct an amphibious landing on the enemy’s shore.

The tour gave a glimpse into capabilities and daily life of South Korean marines, who have earned a reputation as “Ghost-catching Marines” for their prowess during the 1950-1953 Korean War.

SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
South Korean marines show how their amphibious landing KAAV vehicle [Korean Amphibious Assault Vehicle] can be employed on the battlefield [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
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SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
There are three types of KAAVs for troop transport, command and control, and salvage operations [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
North Korea’s Kaepung County, seen from South Korea’s 154m-high Aegibong Peak. About 300 residents were relocated into this 'propaganda town' to show off the prosperity of socialist North Korea in the 1980s, according to South Korean marines. On a clear day, it is possible to see the downtown of North Korea's third-largest city, Kaesong [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
A foreign journalist films North Korea 1km away on the other side of the Han River [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
A South Korean marine officer at the Aegibong Observation Post gives a brief on the history and recent activities of North Korea [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
A marine rides on an amphibious landing vehicle, heavy weapon at the ready [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
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SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
A marine tracks the enemy with his assault rifle [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
Marines disembark from their landing vehicle and swiftly move to their objective [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
Entertainment provided: K-pop band Laboum performs for the marines after being recently commissioned as the official 'cheerleader' for South Korea's military [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]
SOUTH KOREA’S MARINE CORPS
The band is on a tour to military units across the country to boost morale of service personnel [Joel Lawrence/Al Jazeera]