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Would you visit North Korea?

2

Comments

  • #32
    BorneTobyWilde
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,570 ✭✭✭✭BorneTobyWilde


    Should respect another countries culture if you visit, if you're not going to do that then why the hell would you visit.


  • #33
    killbillvol2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,182 ✭✭✭killbillvol2


    I was there in 2016. Very interesting place, a very controlled experience. I'll probably go back and see a bit more.

    Food was good, drank soju more than beer, much more interesting. The few locals we met were curious but very reserved. Your luggage, laptop, phone etc. are pretty thoroughly searched entering and leaving.

    It's ultra safe while you're there unless you do something stupid.


  • #34
    Gimme A Pound
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    judeboy101 wrote: »
    There are a hell of a lot of countries in the world you'll have to avoid with that criteria.
    Indeed there are unfortunately.


  • #35
    Masala
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,589 ✭✭✭Masala


    Not after seeing what they did to the Otto boy... and how helpless the US was in getting him out. And afterwards.... no complaints.


  • #36
    killbillvol2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,182 ✭✭✭killbillvol2


    sugarman wrote: »
    Have had a few friends that visited it in large tour groups.

    You wont run into any bother with an Irish passport and once you remain respectful to their culture (regime).

    Id personally like to visit it if I am ever in a position to do so.

    Your passport is irrelevant unless it's South Korean or US. They collected our passports on arrival and gave them back as we boarded the train to leave.


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  • #37
    bells of shandon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36 ✭bells of shandon


    Worked in Dalian in North China for a couple of years. Visited Dandong which is near the end of the Great Wall and from where the bombed out bridge from the Korean War leads into N.Korea. Visited Pyongang and surrounds ,no problem ,civilised and friendly people, safer than O'Connell St on a Friday night
    Do not mention US Air Force General the phsycopath Curtis le May, who bombed it flat during the Korean War, and boasted he did not leave a stone standing and killed over 20% of the population.


  • #38
    OldMrBrennan83
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,611 ✭✭✭✭OldMrBrennan83


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    Some lovely spots you're missing out on.

    Would never interest me. I'm not one that enjoys travel at the best of times but I'd definitely be too uncomfortable in Asia (and a lot of other places) to ever enjoy it.


  • #39
    Nobelium
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,089 ✭✭✭Nobelium


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Some lovely spots you're missing out on.

    The scenery makes no difference . . . it's the circumstances, ethically I wouldn't be interested in taking a gawking tourist tour of Ireland during the famine, or a concentration camp during it's operation either.


  • #40
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 18,046 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Nobelium wrote: »
    The scenery makes no difference . . . it's the circumstances, ethically I wouldn't be interested in taking a gawking tourist tour of Ireland during the famine, or a concentration camp during it's operation either.

    I was talking about Asia, not North Korea.


  • #41
    Duffy the Vampire Slayer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,385 ✭✭✭Duffy the Vampire Slayer


    I knew quite a few who visited when I was living in South Korea. I didn't really want to go there. As other posters have said, my money would be propping up the dictatorship.


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  • #42
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 99,690 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »
    I knew quite a few who visited when I was living in South Korea.
    Remember the North Korean tourist agency's slogan.

    Visit North Korea before North Korea visits you.


  • #43
    Gimme A Pound
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    Masala wrote: »
    Not after seeing what they did to the Otto boy... and how helpless the US was in getting him out. And afterwards.... no complaints.
    Following investigation though, it appears that he wasn't beaten/tortured or sent to a forced labour camp (and this is from US officials themselves). That only happens to the poor divils who live there. He was sent to a place for foreign prisoners which is ok for propaganda reasons. It's a mystery how he died but post mortems show no evidence of physical abuse (I read a very good and detailed piece in either Time Magazine or The New York Times). Not that I'd envy him, and nothing could make me visit there. The tour company he went with closed afterwards. With good reason.

    Something arrogant imo about such tours catering to privileged westerners.


  • #44
    y0ssar1an22
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 21,574 ✭✭✭✭y0ssar1an22


    B.A._Baracus wrote: »
    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.

    That sounds like victim blaming to me. Didn't think that was allowed


  • #45
    Masala
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,589 ✭✭✭Masala


    Yehuda Refined Brick wrote: »
    Following investigation though, it appears that he wasn't beaten/tortured or sent to a forced labour camp (and this is from US officials themselves). That only happens to the poor divils who live there. He was sent to a place for foreign prisoners which is ok for propaganda reasons. It's a mystery how he died but post mortems show no evidence of physical abuse (I read a very good and detailed piece in either Time Magazine or The New York Times). Not that I'd envy him, and nothing could make me visit there. The tour company he went with closed afterwards. With good reason.

    Something arrogant imo about such tours catering to privileged westerners.

    Thought his parents commented on his condition. His teeth all misaligned, his body contorted, he couldn't see etc etc..... surely his parents know the truth


  • #46
    Nobelium
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,089 ✭✭✭Nobelium


    y0ssar1an22 wrote: »
    That sounds like victim blaming to me. Didn't think that was allowed

    it's allowed all the time, depends on the identity politics angle of the victim/aggressor though.


  • #47
    Gimme A Pound
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    Masala wrote: »
    Thought his parents commented on his condition. His teeth all misaligned, his body contorted, he couldn't see etc etc..... surely his parents know the truth
    They don't though, and naturally they're going to believe he was badly treated. I totally believed he was abused too - thinking what else could it have been, but that article is very eye opening. Worth looking up.


  • #48
    killbillvol2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,182 ✭✭✭killbillvol2


    Yehuda Refined Brick wrote: »
    .... The tour company he went with closed afterwards. With good reason.

    No. It didn't. I travelled with them and they've expanded significantly in the last couple of years.


  • #49
    Nobelium
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,089 ✭✭✭Nobelium


    Masala wrote: »
    Thought his parents commented on his condition. His teeth all misaligned, his body contorted, he couldn't see etc etc..... surely his parents know the truth

    nah what would they know, NK is all good and a great destination for mugs


  • #50
    janfebmar
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,424 ✭✭✭janfebmar


    Masala wrote: »
    Thought his parents commented on his condition. His teeth all misaligned, his body contorted, he couldn't see etc etc..... surely his parents know the truth

    Poor Otto was accused of attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel, for which he was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment with hard labor.
    Shortly after his sentencing in March 2016, he suffered a severe neurological injury from an unconfirmed cause and fell into a coma, which lasted over a year. North Korean authorities did not disclose his medical condition until June 2017.

    According to wiki,i n 2018, a U.S. federal court found the North Korean government liable for Warmbier's torture and death, in a default judgment in favor of Warmbier's parents after North Korea did not contest the case.

    No I do not think I would help prop up (with my tourist euros) such a regime as North Korea thanks.


  • #51
    Infini
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭Infini


    Wouldn't step foot in the place would be better off just visiting South Korea instead if your going that way NK is just too shady.


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  • #52
    Nobelium
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,089 ✭✭✭Nobelium


    janfebmar wrote: »
    Poor Otto was accused of attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel, for which he was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment with hard labor.
    Shortly after his sentencing in March 2016, he suffered a severe neurological injury from an unconfirmed cause and fell into a coma, which lasted over a year. North Korean authorities did not disclose his medical condition until June 2017.

    According to wiki,i n 2018, a U.S. federal court found the North Korean government liable for Warmbier's torture and death, in a default judgment in favor of Warmbier's parents after North Korea did not contest the case.

    No I do not think I would help prop up (with my tourist euros) such a regime as North Korea thanks.

    According to some of the NK tourist fanboys here, Otto must have just slipped in the prison shower . . .lol


  • #53
    dd973
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 625 ✭✭✭dd973


    Resembles 1970's Limerick with skyscrapers.

    Not likely.


  • #54
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,443 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    Visit a sh1thole run by sh1theels?

    No thanks.


  • #55
    Gimme A Pound
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    killbillvol2 wrote: »
    No. It didn't. I travelled with them and they've expanded significantly in the last couple of years.
    My mistake - got that completely wrong. They stopped including Americans on the tours to NK, which they had to anyway.

    And I said the lengthy article I read about Otto Warmbier was in Time or the NY Times. Neither - it was GQ: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gq.com/story/otto-warmbier-north-korea-american-hostage-true-story/amp


  • #56
    Gimme A Pound
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    Nobelium wrote: »
    nah what would they know, NK is all good and a great destination for mugs
    Nobelium wrote: »
    According to some of the NK tourist fanboys here, Otto must have just slipped in the prison shower . . .lol
    Trying to find those posts.

    Anyone would assume he was brutalised and killed by the regime of course. But if you read about the aftermath and investigation, it doesn't quite add up like that. I didn't want to believe it either - a straightforward explanation is preferable with regard to what happened, but you can't fault me for simply talking about what I read. I'm still one of the regime's critics.


  • #57
    The Enbalmer
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 937 ✭✭✭The Enbalmer


    A friend of mine was over there..You have a "guide" that follows you everywhere,your rooms are bugged (seriously!)and they monitor your phone calls.
    Apparently the people are nice enough and the food (as a tourist) isn't too bad at all.


  • #58
    whisky_galore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,266 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


    OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »
    Not a chance. I wouldn't go to Asia in the first place anyway, but definitely not some dictatorship hellhole.

    Sounds like all of Asia just dodged a bullet.


  • #59
    OldMrBrennan83
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,611 ✭✭✭✭OldMrBrennan83


    whisky_galore wrote: »
    Sounds like all of Asia just dodged a bullet.

    Oh you.

    Me and them both.


  • #60
    md23040
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭md23040


    The Enbalmer wrote: »
    Apparently the people are nice enough and the food (as a tourist) isn't too bad at all.

    Because of the embargo and poor soil conditions doesn’t the regime use human excrement as a substitute for soil fertilizer? There’s no way I’d eat any of their food no matter what. There’s no way I’d want to have a load of worms and parasites in my body like 100% of fleeing dissidents.


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  • #61
    whisky_galore
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,266 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


    Weepsie wrote: »
    Just go to South Korea. Seoul is great, Busan is great. Stay in Hahoe near Andong
    It's like going back 1000 years in time, but they have better WiFi than our cities. Food is incredible, people are great.

    There's even better WiFi in some supposedly backward and Communist countries compared to here.


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