Have you ever been to North Korea?

Question

Tell me about it.

Answer 1

I used to live and work in Seoul, South Korea. I once visited the DMZ. They only let tourists visit as part of a registered tourist group with a tourist company. It is crazy. That visit to the DMZ was memorable. Just seeing North Korea was crazy.

Answer 2

I briefly stood on North Korean soil at the border. They have a conference table in a small building right on the border and when it's not in use visitors can walk around both sides. The trip was interesting - we couldn't wear shorts or point or gesture towards the northern side, and signed a waiver saying if hostilities broke out we wdn't hold the UN responsible for any injuries.

We only saw one person on the other side, but I've heard from other westerners who've been that people cower from foreigners. They've been so cut off from most of the world for so long most have never seen a white person. If one were to see the real North Korea up close, beyond the carefully-controlled tours for the few foreigners who can get it (I knew someone who went for a wrestling tournament), it's probably hell on earth.

Answer 3

I've never been but I've been told it's very expensive as you have to buy a package from the government. You pay the money upfront and then everything is included, including your tour guide/spy. You have to go through Beijing to get there, the boat from Japan has been suspended since the missile tests. Rumour has it that the passengers on subway station foreigners are shown are all actors who spring into action for the tourists.

Answer 4

No but I'd like to go to China, I think it'd be interesting. I don't know how different the two would be, but probably very different. I don't really want to go to N. Korea.

Answer 5

just imagine north korea is the city "airstrip one" of george orwell's novel "1984"

Answer 6

Nope, I have never been.