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'Safer than London!' North Korea opens door to Russian tourists

 

People walk in front of the Monument to the Foundation of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea April 16, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/Files

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - North Korea has opened its doors to Russian tourists, issuing a licence for the first travel agency in Moscow to promise clients "full immersion" in the nation's culture and enjoyment "safer than an evening walk in London".

 

NKOREAN.RU, a Russian company licensed by North Korea's government, offers organised tours for groups of up to 10 people or individuals "to show the travellers the multi-faceted life of this most closed of countries".

 

Guests to North Korea must necessarily be "checked" before their trip and will always be accompanied by a guide who will monitor the "adequate behaviour of the tourist and guarantee his safety." Pictures of strategic and military facilities are banned and long talks with locals "are not recommended".

 

North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and dozens of missile tests since the beginning of last year, significantly raising tension on the heavily militarised Korean peninsula and in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

 

Two tests of inter-continental ballistic missiles in July triggered a new round of tougher global sanctions. Faced with economic problems made harder by multiple sanctions, the Pyongyang government is keen to develop tourism to earn cash.

 

The most pricey tour, 15 days "full immersion in the culture of North Korea" costing 118,090 roubles ($1,997), includes visits to a farm, a mineral water factory, a Buddhist temple, walks in the mountains and an introduction to national cuisine. Visits to numerous museums to founding leader Kim Il-Sung are also on offer.

 

Other less demanding tours include relaxation on a beach, an aviation show and even a beer festival.

 

It is unclear how popular these trips will be among Russians who have already developed a fondness for visiting Europe and the affordable resorts of Turkey and Thailand.

 

($1 = 59.1449 roubles)

 

(Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; editing by Ralph Boulton)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-25

[Credo]

Well, there goes Trump's fire and fury.   NK is making friends with Russia and has a constant companionship with China.    I think all the bluster on Trumps part has just been neutralized.   

[craigt3365]

I doubt they'll find many takers. It'd be like the US state of Alabama advertising in Louisiana for tourists to come and visit. Same same.

 

Russians want to escape the cold weather and experience something new. That's not NK. Plus, will they be happy being followed 24x7?

 

I'm sure London is way more interesting to them. Visiting a mineral water factory or a farm?  Too funny. They've got exactly the same thing at home.

[soalbundy]

safer than London, that wouldn't be hard

[fakename]

I guess that the Russians, that havent experienced the "Stalin" experience, might be interested.

[Baerboxer]

The Russian and former Soviet republic gangsters in London are some of the most dangerous.

 

Little fat boy best be careful. Once the Russian mafia get a toe hold, not much scares them!

[Srikcir]

So funny a communist regime promoting visits to a Buddhist Temple.

Maybe Jong-Un can import a couple of Thai monks for realism.

[Krataiboy]

My enemy's enemy is my friend.

 

The North Korean leadership is clearly learning from the US and its incestuous relationships with such bastions of democracy and individual freedom as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen, etc.

 

 

[soalbundy]

2 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

My enemy's enemy is my friend.

 

The North Korean leadership is clearly learning from the US and its incestuous relationships with such bastions of democracy and individual freedom as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen, etc.

 

 

As far as NK is concerned Russia is a democratic leading light whose rays they will shun

[Srikcir]

4 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

As far as NK is concerned Russia is a democratic leading light whose rays they will shun

The Russian Oligarchy is more aligned with Communist one-party rule than with democracy. The two countries tend to gravitate to each other.

[Jdiddy]

North Koreans are probably sick of bad behaving Chinese tourists making up 90% of NK's tourism

[sweatalot]

I guess the plan is having Russians in their country would deter Trump ffrom shooting

[craigt3365]

8 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

My enemy's enemy is my friend.

 

The North Korean leadership is clearly learning from the US and its incestuous relationships with such bastions of democracy and individual freedom as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen, etc.

 

 

Incestuous relationship with Yemen? Egypt? Seriously?  Too funny.

 

The entire West is in bed with Saudi Arabia.

[overherebc]

Every 10 planes or so there will be a name drawn from a hat and the prize will be dinner with guess who, but, the prize winner will have to have the same haircut and sign the official secrets act and cannot speak about the food or entertainment.

[midas]

On 8/25/2017 at 8:00 AM, craigt3365 said:

I doubt they'll find many takers. It'd be like the US state of Alabama advertising in Louisiana for tourists to come and visit. Same same.

 

Russians want to escape the cold weather and experience something new. That's not NK. Plus, will they be happy being followed 24x7?

 

I'm sure London is way more interesting to them. Visiting a mineral water factory or a farm?  Too funny. They've got exactly the same thing at home.

 

Oh no I'm sorry but I have vehemently have to disagree with you. I went there 10 years ago and found it one of the most fascinating countries to ever visit and I've travelled very extensively.

We saw so many things as a group I can't list them all here but is very different to anything else you will see anywhere in the world and we didn't visit any farms or factories.

The atmosphere inside the mausoleum (Palace of the Sun) where Kim Il-sung  the Great leader's embalmed body lies inside a clear glass sarcophagus and is something I will never forget. The building is like the Pentagon and you travel for what seems like kilometres on long  travelators. But it's also the lighting and the general atmosphere inside the building and the behaviour of North Korean people  which has a lasting effect on you and everyone in my group felt the same.

They took us to a performance where very young children were virtuosos in their chosen art exhibiting a standard of perfection I have never seen anywhere else.

We were taken up The Juche Tower  for a spectacular view over Pyongyang.

Then we were taken down to the demilitarised zone to hear " the other side of the story " so to speak (because you will never hear it from anywhere else) and we enjoyed little things along the way like the novelty of stopping in a motorway services and sitting in the middle of a five lane motorway where there are no cars!

We were taken on the subway where the stations are even more artistically ornate than those you see in Moscow.

Then we were taken up into the mountains to see the huge building which contains all the gifts that other countries have given to North Korea over the years.

Pyongyang is a beautiful city with superb architecture.

Edited August 27, 2017 by midas

[craigt3365]

19 minutes ago, midas said:

 

Oh no I'm sorry but I have vehemently have to disagree with you. I went there 10 years ago and found it one of the most fascinating countries to ever visit and I've travelled very extensively.

We saw so many things as a group I can't list them all here but is very different to anything else you will see anywhere in the world and we didn't visit any farms or factories.

The atmosphere inside the mausoleum (Palace of the Sun) where Kim Il-sung  the Great leader's embalmed body lies inside a clear glass sarcophagus and is something I will never forget. The building is like the Pentagon and you travel for what seems like kilometres on long  travelators. But it's also the lighting and the general atmosphere inside the building and the behaviour of North Korean people  which has a lasting effect on you and everyone in my group felt the same.

They took us to a performance where very young children were virtuosos in their chosen art exhibiting a standard of perfection I have never seen anywhere else.

We were taken up The Juche Tower  for a spectacular view over Pyongyang.

Then we were taken down to the demilitarised zone to hear " the other side of the story " so to speak (because you will never hear it from anywhere else) and we enjoyed little things along the way like the novelty of stopping in a motorway services and sitting in the middle of a five lane motorway where there are no cars!

We were taken on the subway where the stations are even more artistically ornate than those you see in Moscow.

Then we were taken up into the mountains to see the huge building which contains all the gifts that other countries have given to North Korea over the years.

Pyongyang is a beautiful city with superb architecture.

I've not been but know many who have. The point is, you are NOT from Russia, so you would find this fascinating. As I would. For a Russian,  it's just like back home. Not quite as interesting as London!

 

[midas]

52 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

I've not been but know many who have. The point is, you are NOT from Russia, so you would find this fascinating. As I would. For a Russian,  it's just like back home. Not quite as interesting as London!

 

I am sure even the Russians will find the mesmerising loyalty that North Korean's show for their leader to be just as fascinating as the rest of usmaybe they will return to Russia after the visit and decide Putin should be named the " Greatest Leader "

[ilostmypassword]

12 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

I've not been but know many who have. The point is, you are NOT from Russia, so you would find this fascinating. As I would. For a Russian,  it's just like back home. Not quite as interesting as London!

 

I grew up in a country that had a representative democracy as a form of government. That's why I never go to any other countries with that form of government. If you've seen one democracy, you've seen them all.

[craigt3365]

7 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

I grew up in a country that had a representative democracy as a form of government. That's why I never go to any other countries with that form of government. If you've seen one democracy, you've seen them all.

Right....

[craigt3365]

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/north-korea-scraps-wonsan-air-show-amid-tightening-of-travel-restrictions

Quote

North Korea scraps Wonsan Air Show amid tightening of travel restrictions

 

http://www.newsweek.com/why-north-korea-suddenly-cancelled-second-edition-its-international-beer-640964
 

Quote

 

North Korea's International Beer Festival Is No More

 

A U.N. report from March 2017 said two-fifths of North Koreans (an estimated 18 million people) suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition.