North Korea’s First Tourists in Five Years Share Surreal Experience

[Social Media]

 

For the first time in five years, North Korea has opened its doors to Western tourists, offering a rare glimpse into one of the world’s most secretive nations. What the visitors encountered was both surreal and unsettling, from choreographed school performances featuring animated ballistic missile attacks to the strict surveillance that followed them at every turn.  

 

 

A small group of adventurous travelers from the UK, France, Germany, and Australia embarked on a four-day trip to Rason, a remote region in the country’s northeast, facilitated by Young Pioneer Tours. It was the first officially sanctioned tourist visit since the country sealed itself off at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite the long absence of foreign visitors, one tourist noted, “They’ve had five years to fix things. North Koreans are so sensitive about what they show tourists. If this is the best they can show, I dread to think what else is out there.”  

 

 

The experience was highly controlled. Travelers had to abide by strict rules, including refraining from criticizing the country’s leadership, mocking its ideology, or questioning its way of life. They were constantly monitored by government minders and, in some cases, even had to ask permission for basic activities. “A couple of times I even had to let them know when I wanted to use the bathroom,” said Mike O’Kennedy, a 28-year-old British YouTuber. “I’ve never had to do that anywhere in the world.”  

 

 

Tourists were given a carefully curated itinerary that included visits to a beer factory, a new pharmacy, and a local school. One of the more bizarre moments came when a group of eight-year-old children performed a musical routine against a backdrop of animated ballistic missiles launching and striking buildings in a fiery explosion.  

 

 

Rowan Beard, a representative of Young Pioneer Tours, emphasized the importance of engaging with North Korean citizens despite the country’s restrictions. “The North Koreans aren’t robots. They have opinions, goals, and a sense of humor. And in our briefing we encourage people to listen to and understand them,” he told the BBC. The response to the reopening was immediate—slots for the tour sold out in just five hours.  

 

The group entered North Korea through China and traveled to Rason, a region more than 500 miles from Pyongyang, the capital city that once allowed occasional, highly controlled tourist visits. Unlike the propaganda images released by the ruling Kim family, which depict a modern, gleaming metropolis, visitors found the reality to be far different. “The roads are awful, the pavements are wobbly, and the buildings are weirdly constructed,” said Joe Smith, a former writer for NK News who has visited North Korea three times. He described the outdated décor of the hotel they stayed in as resembling “his grandma’s living room.”  

 

Even small, seemingly harmless actions carried risks. O’Kennedy recalled an awkward moment when he was asked to sign a visitor book at a North Korea-Russia Friendship house. “I went blank and wrote something like ‘I wish the world peace.’ Afterwards my guide told me that was an inappropriate thing to write. That made me paranoid,” he said. “Generally, the guides did a great job of making us feel safe. There were just a couple of moments when I thought, this is bizarre.”  

 

Despite the strict controls, some tour organizers argue that even limited cultural exchanges benefit ordinary North Koreans, who have little exposure to the outside world. “North Koreans get the chance to engage with foreigners. This allows them to come up with new ideas, which, in a country this closed, is so important,” said Greg Vaczi of Koryo Tours.  

 

While the trip may have provided a rare window into North Korea, it also reinforced the deep isolation and rigid control the government maintains over its people and visitors alike.

 

Based on a report by NYP  2025-03-04

 

 

[mikeymike100]

Who in their right mind would go there as a tourist.......... “I went blank and wrote something like ‘I wish the world peace.’ Afterwards my guide told me that was an inappropriate thing to write"

 

If writing 'I wish the world peace' is inappropriate, what would be appropriate?

[mfd101]

And how do the 'tourists' have contact with the locals except thru their minders/security/tourist guides?

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

Who in their right mind would go there as a tourist.......... “I went blank and wrote something like ‘I wish the world peace.’ Afterwards my guide told me that was an inappropriate thing to write"

 

If writing 'I wish the world peace' is inappropriate, what would be appropriate?

It's a mysterious country. And on my bucket list to visit within the next 3 years (after my best friend, my dog, will pass away)

[Purdey]

I suppose the north Koreans want people to appreciate them.

I wonder if the guides noted, "You haven't thanked us yet."

[DonniePeverley]

I've been to North Korea, on one of these organised tours before covid.

 

Do not believe the media hype that the country is some bizarre closed off end of the world type living. It's not. It's certainly not a rich country, but by no means poverty you would associate with some African states - and i've seen real poverty in India too.

 

Granted we were on a strict organised tour, but we also had moments we could just wander around. 

 

Don't believe the hype. North Korea, the capital Pyongang is a pretty normal metropolsis - certainly better than the dump of some cities in the UK. 

 

There were plenty of Chinese visitors there. Now here i was thinking North Korea was closed to the world - but nope plenty of Chinese making the crossing from the north into North Korea all the time, be it work, business or to see family. 

 

Of course the political system is crazy, but i've seen nut jobs political systems around the world. The people were very nice, very normal from what we saw. Of course the propoganda shows we were shown were a nonsense. 

[thecyclist]

5 hours ago, mikeymike100 said:

Who in their right mind would go there as a tourist.......... “I went blank and wrote something like ‘I wish the world peace.’ Afterwards my guide told me that was an inappropriate thing to write"

 

If writing 'I wish the world peace' is inappropriate, what would be appropriate?

Long live chairman Kim. 

[Harrisfan]

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

I've been to North Korea, on one of these organised tours before covid.

 

Do not believe the media hype that the country is some bizarre closed off end of the world type living. It's not. It's certainly not a rich country, but by no means poverty you would associate with some African states - and i've seen real poverty in India too.

 

Granted we were on a strict organised tour, but we also had moments we could just wander around. 

 

Don't believe the hype. North Korea, the capital Pyongang is a pretty normal metropolsis - certainly better than the dump of some cities in the UK. 

 

There were plenty of Chinese visitors there. Now here i was thinking North Korea was closed to the world - but nope plenty of Chinese making the crossing from the north into North Korea all the time, be it work, business or to see family. 

 

Of course the political system is crazy, but i've seen nut jobs political systems around the world. The people were very nice, very normal from what we saw. Of course the propoganda shows we were shown were a nonsense. 

What about special massages and bargirls?

[richard_smith237]

After the Otto Warmbier incident I would be very cautious about travelling to this country - its seems there is no reason to visit whatsoever.... 

 

 

Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old American student, was prevented from boarding his departing plane and arrested in North Korea in 2016 for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour. After 17 months in detention, he was released in a coma in June 2017 and died shortly after returning to the US. His mistreatment in North Korea led to international condemnation.

 

Ultimately - Iran and North Korea are two places I would never want to go to unless I had a very good reason and I've been to some very ropey places.... 

[DonniePeverley]

42 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

What about special massages and bargirls?

 

I'm sure in a population close to 30 millon prositution goes on. Like i say, the media hype it up to be some sort of hardcore police state with every citizen being watched by 10 men. 

 

It wasn't like that. 

 

Now granted, i'm sure as tourists we were being watched, and they are deeply suspicious. But like i said, we did leave areas to walk around and we got a feel of the capital city. And i caveat that with knowing the other cities may well be dumps, but again we took a coach journey and it seemed all very normal.

 

The media hype and fascination with it is all made up. 

[Harrisfan]

I'm too political. If I went there a joke could kill me. No thanks.

[rough diamond]

58 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

I'm too political. If I went there a joke could kill me. No thanks.

Please go there in that case.

I'm sure many AN posters would help with a "go to Korea Fund me" page.

[JonnyF]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

Travelers had to abide by strict rules, including refraining from criticizing the country’s leadership, mocking its ideology, or questioning its way of life. They were constantly monitored by government minders and, in some cases, even had to ask permission for basic activities.

 

A lot like the UK under Starmer then...