Would you visit North Korea?

DEFTLEFTHAND · 28-04-2019 02:21AM #1

Myself and a friend are heading to Beijing on a one way flight this July. A Wedding

We've left our return date open as we were planning to mess around for a while after, the two of us work like dogs yr round, for the first time in ages we're going to take a 3 full weeks off .

I suggested a tour of North Korea, 8 days all inclusive for 1100 US Dollars.
I actually really want to do it , a once in a lifetime experience .

wakka12 · 28-04-2019 02:35AM

It would be fascinating but Id be terrified of being imprisoned or executed for no reason

Yurt2 · 28-04-2019 02:45AM

Know a few people that have made the trip; it's expensive and not too many opportunities to go off-piste. Not everyone's idea of a holiday but it certainly would be unique.

Funnily enough, a travel agency in Limerick (Global Village Tours - not connected with them btw) organize trips.

B.A._Baracus · 28-04-2019 02:46AM

No I wouldn't.
It is like going down a dark alley that people have got jumped and mugged before. You say to yourself it will be grand. However it if happens to yourself what do people rightly say? Why did you go down there?!!?!?

Do what you want. I personally wouldn't.

28-04-2019 02:52AM

Irish passport? Yeah, go for it.

Loads of my friends want to go cause we're decently close to it. We're all interested in the facade. But I'm lazy so probably won't do it.

Yurt2 · 28-04-2019 02:52AM

Double post

missykat · 28-04-2019 02:52AM

I completed the marathon in North Korea. It was pricey but I’m glad I went. You will be brought on the tourist route of all the ‘spectacular’ buildings and museums they have but I met some Americans who work in the university there and they also shared their experiences. It was definitely a highlight for me.

Canis Lupus · 28-04-2019 03:04AM

As I mentioned previously I would like to but ultimately my tourist dollars would be propping up vicious dictatorship and I wouldn't be comfortable with that.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 28-04-2019 03:12AM

Apparently all tourists bound for NK attend a lecture before travelling. No mention of WW2 and the real reasons behind the Korean War.

Also the upmost importance of showing respect to the Kim Dynasty at all times.

The tourist company I'm researching have great reviews.
Great beer in the DPRK by the sounds of things..

whisky_galore · 28-04-2019 03:35AM

It would be pretty safe from a tourist perspective, unless you do something stupid. Everything you do will be carefully watched.

I wouldn't be interested as it looks like a lot of money to visit an oppressive country just for bragging rights.

mcgregor2019 · 28-04-2019 03:52AM

I visited a couple of years ago from Dandong, the closest city to the North Korean border. Took the train, place was a bit weird, heavily monitored, price was really high, though it did include everything, an English speaking guide, bus, hotel, food, etc.... It's really safe, nothing to worry about, assuming that follow the rules

Agent Coulson · 28-04-2019 05:04AM

8 days for 1100 dollars all inclusive that's about 950 Euros so about 115 euro's a day to visit NK.

I'd be up to paying that if I was over that side of the world.

I would love to visit however i'd be conflicted about my tourist dollar propping up vicious dictatorship over a once in a lifetime experience.

branie2 · 28-04-2019 09:08AM

Definitely not!

Yamanoto · 28-04-2019 09:23AM

Though it appears fascinating in its difference, I'd be worried the reality would be soulless hotel rooms, bad food and no meaningful interactions with local people.

It could actually be simultaneously interesting and boring.

28-04-2019 01:41PM

No thanks, I wouldn't be comfortable getting shown and indirectly supporting this facade while the real people are suffering crippling poverty and repression on the other side of the veil

Charles Ingles · 28-04-2019 01:45PM

Agent Coulson wrote: »

8 days for 1100 dollars all inclusive that's about 950 Euros so about 115 euro's a day to visit NK.

I'd be up to paying that if I was over that side of the world.

I would love to visit however i'd be conflicted about my tourist dollar propping up vicious dictatorship over a once in a lifetime experience.

Why not go with an open mind,
Might surprise you that it's not under the control of a vicious dictatorship.
My son visited and said a lot of mistrustful "facts" put out about NK, the people love their leadership

OldMrBrennan83 · 28-04-2019 01:46PM

Not a chance. I wouldn't go to Asia in the first place anyway, but definitely not some dictatorship hellhole.

Gimme A Pound · 28-04-2019 01:48PM

Beyond me why people would finance that dictatorship and view a fake facade as fascinating. While people are suffering unimaginably, but the tourists get to go home to their comfortable lives in freedom then (unless they are Otto Warmbier). In very poor taste imo. Also pretty stupid - who knows what innocuous but dangerous thing you could say after a few drinks that could land you or the tour guide in trouble.

And show respect for the dictatorship? Eh no.

Gimme A Pound · 28-04-2019 01:49PM

Charles Ingles wrote: »

Why not go with an open mind,
Might surprise you that it's not under the control of a vicious dictatorship.
My son visited and said a lot of mistrustful "facts" put out about NK, the people love their leadership

He'll be complaining about the place in another post. Don't feed.

stateofflux · 28-04-2019 01:52PM

Charles Ingles wrote: »

Why not go with an open mind,
Might surprise you that it's not under the control of a vicious dictatorship.
My son visited and said a lot of mistrustful "facts" put out about NK, the people love their leadership

I would love any leadership with a gun pressing against my neck

Nobelium · 28-04-2019 02:01PM

A person might go out of geopolitical interest, but you'd need to be extremely careful about what you bring, do and say at all times in all places, including your "private" room. We don't wan't to be spending our Irish taxpayers money, and giving NK diplomatic leverage for the sake of bailing out some Irish adventure tourist clown in NK who didn't have his wits about him.

On second thoughts, apart from the above, a tourist trip there cannot be justified ethically, and you don't want to be on the wrong side of history.

The Satanist · 28-04-2019 02:01PM

I'd love to go there. I spent a week in Iran, which some people claimed was part of an axis of evil but I found it to be a wonderful place full of warm, friendly people.

28-04-2019 02:02PM

Visit a country where people are impoverished but vast motorway networks are constructed for a handful of cars and where a persons entire family can be brutally punished for a minor misstep and where human rights are an alien concept to the barbaric shadowy miasma that is the leadership, who live in spendour while the population mainly consists of starving tatterdemalions, and support that brutality by giving them my tourist money?

That would be a no.

Nobelium · 28-04-2019 02:07PM

Candie wrote: »

Visit a country where people are impoverished but vast motorway networks are constructed for a handful of cars and where a persons entire family can be brutally punished for a minor misstep and where human rights are an alien concept to the barbaric shadowy miasma that is the leadership, who live in spendour while the population mainly consists of starving tatterdemalions, and support that brutality by giving them my tourist money?

That would be a no.

You make an excellent point and a reminder of reality. Ethically it's very questionable taking a tourist trip there.
it's like taking a tour of a concentration camp while it's still in actual operation.

Charles Ingles · 28-04-2019 02:10PM

stateofflux wrote: »

I would love any leadership with a gun pressing against my neck

My son works as an engineer and traveled quite a bit around the country.
He said the people are very warm but standoffish, but the parts he visited were beautiful he had some great pictures would it be ok to post here?

rgodard80a · 28-04-2019 02:30PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Would you visit North Korea?.

Yes, but only in a stealth bomber.

Ten of Swords · 28-04-2019 02:34PM

Don't plan to ever go but if I did I'd probably give Pyongyang a miss, I'd probably visit the Myohyangsan region or maybe Masikryong Ski Resort

stefanovich · 28-04-2019 02:35PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Myself and a friend are heading to Beijing on a one way flight this July. A Wedding

We've left our return date open as we were planning to mess around for a while after, the two of us work like dogs yr round, for the first time in ages we're going to take a 3 full weeks off .

I suggested a tour of North Korea, 8 days all inclusive for 1100 US Dollars.
I actually really want to do it , a once in a lifetime experience .

Might be the last thing you do.

judeboy101 · 28-04-2019 02:40PM

Canis Lupus wrote: »

As I mentioned previously I would like to but ultimately my tourist dollars would be propping up vicious dictatorship and I wouldn't be comfortable with that.

There are a hell of a lot of countries in the world you'll have to avoid with that criteria.

Strumms · 28-04-2019 02:41PM

wakka12 wrote: »

It would be fascinating but Id be terrified of being imprisoned or executed for no reason

You be grand, they would execute but they’d give you a reason.

28-04-2019 02:51PM

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Not a chance. I wouldn't go to Asia in the first place anyway, but definitely not some dictatorship hellhole.

Some lovely spots you're missing out on.

Would you visit North Korea?

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