Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang

[Ichigokun]

But you will get a North Korean visa

[xiaostar]

there's a blog written by a singaporean about his travels to north korea:

http://weecheng.com/asia/dprk/index2.htm

there are a couple of tour agencies which did SG-North Korea trips last year:
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii224/mosmos88/Oversea%20Tour/ST110616NK.jpg

[Ichigokun]

Actually there are quite a lot of tourist attractions in North Korea, most of them being natural scenic views.


감강산 (Kumgang-San), 백두산 (Paektusan), 평양 (Pyongyang, Capital of DPRK), 천진 (Cheonjin) 개성 (Kaesong, City that is somehow shared between North and South Korea), 조선리은니피개선교 (Bridge of Korean Reunification)

However it is strongly not advised to visit rural areas in North Korea. Corruption in rural areas are really bad. There had been South Korean footage of children in North Korean rural areas injecting themselves with drugs, smoking to keep themselves warm and those handicapped children get trampled on, bullied etc.

If I were to head there, the only place I would dare to go is Kaesong (개성) and Pyongyang (평양).

In Kaesong, it’s a city shared between North and South Korea. It’s rather safe since there are South Koreans there and it’s really close to the DMZ Panmunjeom (판문점).

In Pyongyang, if you notice, North Korea places a fake side of itself, the streets of Pyongyang have practically no litter at all, it’s people are always smiling, but it’s all a facade. The DPRK government will take special care to make any beggars roam Pyongyang.

Only the "elite" people of North Korea live in Pyongyang (eg those who have family members that are high-ranking officials or those families that are rather well-off)

If you want more freedom, South Korea is a better choice. I don’t think there’s any corruption in South Korea.

[titank]

Seem like quite expensive to visit North Korea. :yikes:

[Ichigokun]

titank:

Seem like quite expensive to visit North Korea. :yikes:

Of course... North Korea isn't that easy to get into, you know. All the arrangements have to be made. The North Koreans will have to put on a facade that food there is in abundance and people are happy before you can go there

[Ichigokun]

@titank

I read up the newspaper. There is a trip hosted by UTC travel agency to North Korea. It costs SGD$1999 (after discount, originally $2199) for a 8-day trip.

Comparing SGD$1999 to the price to go to South Korea at a mere $650 to $1000 dollars and the price to go to Mongolia at a mere $1600++, North Korea is very expensive.

I mean, the things there aren’t even good. I doubt anybody would want to visit North Korea unless they have a dying curiosity for this nation they HAVE to go inside to take a look.

[LOLMum]

Now is the time to go cos of the 阿里郞 performance. This year is also n Korea 100th year celebrations.


There is a tour agency at people park centre basement doing north Korea tour. I think for a 8 day tour it is about 2k +++ for 2 adults.

But many restrictions like if u worked in news agency etc or govt depts, u might not be allowed to join.

Also dh n I don’t like to have the north korea’s stamp in our passports cos you never know if other countries upon seeing this stamp will allow you to step onto their shores.

Bil who went to n Korea about three years ago from Hk didn’t have the stamp on his passport…it was stamped on a piece of paper. When in Hk recently, confirmed with two tour agencies…stamp is not done on the passport unlike Singapore.

Also we were told not to go out at night for our own safety. It is not about crime rate…but u might just disappear n no one can help you.

[Ichigokun]

LOLMum:

Now is the time to go cos of the 阿里郞 performance. This year is also n Korea 100th year celebrations.


There is a tour agency at people park centre basement doing north Korea tour. I think for a 8 day tour it is about 2k +++ for 2 adults.

But many restrictions like if u worked in news agency etc or govt depts, u might not be allowed to join.

Also dh n I don't like to have the north korea's stamp in our passports cos you never know if other countries upon seeing this stamp will allow you to step onto their shores.

Bil who went to n Korea about three years ago from Hk didn't have the stamp on his passport...it was stamped on a piece of paper. When in Hk recently, confirmed with two tour agencies...stamp is not done on the passport unlike Singapore.

Also we were told not to go out at night for our own safety. It is not about crime rate...but u might just disappear n no one can help you.

I guess they stamp on Singapore's passports because NKorea has good relations with Singapore.

The rate of crime in North Korea is very, very high. It's good to keep a good watch out for any robbers or pickpockets. But I think it is unlikely any criminals will rob or pickpocket people in Pyongyang.

The NKorean government wants the foreigners to have a mentality that NKorea is not as bad as you think. When in all reality it's just a fake.

One more reason is because the guides don't like you to walk around NKorea alone at night is because you might see something they do not want you to see, like a beggar begging on the streets etc.

Um... But the Arirang performance and 100th year celebrations were in April (I thought?) along with Kim Il-SUNG'S birthday (Day of the Sun, 15 April)

If there's one month you would want to visit NKorea, it's April. Almost all their important days fall on that month.

[Ichigokun]

I only know that people who have visited Cuba can’t enter the US. They will have to pay a fine. I don’t know about NKorea though.

[LOLMum]

Ichigokun:

Um... But the Arirang performance and 100th year celebrations were in April (I thought?) along with Kim Il-SUNG'S birthday (Day of the Sun, 15 April)

.

The arrange performance is in August ( checked with tour operator utc at people's park centre n tour operators in Hk in july).