OPERATION PAUL BUNYAN: HOW A SIMPLE TREE IN THE DMZ TURNED INTO A GLOBAL INCIDENT
History is full of large conflicts: empires clashing over land, armies chasing gold, or nations divided by ideology. But sometimes, it’s the smallest, strangest things that tip the balance.
Take the summer of 1976, when a single poplar tree sitting in the middle of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) nearly triggered World War III, and became one of the most intense standoffs of the Cold War.
Yes, you heard that right, a tree. It wasn't magical, nor was it hiding secret bunkers. It was just a tree in the wrong place at the wrong time. And yet, it became the center of one of the tensest standoffs of the Cold War.
The reason? It’s because the tree blocked the view between two checkpoints. One controlled by the United Nations Command, and the other by North Korea. It showed that even the simplest things have the power to tip the world into chaos.
Why Did They Pick a Fight Over a Tree?
Normally, if something blocks your view, you either move it or move yourself. But in the DMZ, even trimming a tree can be dangerous.
On August 18, 1976, Captain Arthur Bonifas and First Lieutenant Mark Barrett led a team of approximately 15 soldiers to trim the tree, while Captain Kim Moon Hwan supervised the operation. Their mission wasn’t about provocation — it was simply to improve visibility between checkpoints.
Within minutes, a group of North Korean soldiers, along with Lieutenant Pak Chul, arrived at the scene from the Bridge of No Return, a crossing point in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where captured soldiers were once exchanged.
At first, they didn’t object and even seemed to accept the trimming. However, Lt. Pak Chul soon grew agitated. He threatened that if they cut more branches, there would be bigger problems.
Bonifas ignored the warning and kept on working. However, tensions rose. Voices got louder.
More soldiers came, and Lt. Pak Chul gave Bonifas an ultimatum, demanding that the team stop; otherwise, they would be forced to engage Capt. Bonifas’ team.
The Cutting Led to the North Korea Tree Incident
As Bonifas and Barrett's team refused to stop, the North Korean soldiers attacked using axes, clubs, and fists. Both of them were beaten to death. This incident became known as the Korean axe murder incident, which left many others injured.
At this point, it was no longer a simple tree trimming. Washington and Seoul had to respond, but they had to be careful, as they didn’t want to start a war.
Days after the incident, the United States and South Korea officially rolled out Operation Paul Bunyan, which was to cut down the tree, intending to finish the job without being pushed around by North Koreans.
They planned to assemble a convoy with engineers equipped with chainsaws, dozens of armed soldiers for protection, helicopters circling overhead, and nearby artillery and fighter jets ready for backup. Every move they made was designed to demonstrate overwhelming power without firing a shot. They had a strict order not to fire unless attacked.
Roughly around 150 to 200 North Korean soldiers showed up. They watched from a distance and made no move to interfere. For over 42 minutes, both sides stared each other down without firing a shot.
The Tree Was Cut Down Cleanly
In most places, you’d just cut a tree down and move on, but not at the DMZ, as it’s one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world, where every move is watched, questioned, and sometimes challenged.
According to plan, the United States and South Korea were able to cut the tree down without starting a war. And somehow, North Korea sent a message of regret over the killings, which was rare at the time.
The DMZ’s layout was also changed to prevent future clashes, and the Bridge of No Return was also shut down. The stump has stayed for years, and it became a quiet landmark of how something so small almost set off something far bigger.
Luckily, this operation didn’t escalate into a war.
A Simple Tree Cut That Almost Caused War
Looking back, the story of Operation Paul Bunyan feels like a scene from a dark comedy. The lesson was serious, and a tragic incident (Captain Bonifas & First Lieutenant Barrett's deaths) happened because of a tree.
This was an example of controlled force; there was enough to show power, but not enough to start a war. It’s a story that shows how in sensitive places like the Korean Peninsula, even something as simple as trimming a tree can carry massive weight.
Today, the poplar tree is gone, but it proves that even in the shadow of war, small actions can carry big meaning, and sometimes the loudest message is sent without firing a single shot.
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BY ALLISON KIRSCHBAUM
Allison is a B2B and B2C SEO content writer and copywriter with seven years of experience in multiple types of web and digital copy. She specializes in driving rankings and leads through content in verticals such as SaaS, B2B2C, MarTech, FinTech, financial services, insurance, and manufacturing.
