<![CDATA[Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang]]>I know its a bit weird. But jus curious, any of you have ever visited this hermit nation, North Korea?


North Korea (조선/북한) is a communist nation full of brainwashed Koreans.

Their first leader and founder is Kim Il-song (김일성), his son, Kim Jong-il (김정일), who recently died is the second leader. The third and current leader is Kim Jong-eun (김정은), Kim Jong-Il’s son.

North Korea’s capital is Pyongyang (평양). North Korea also boasts quite a few mountains. The most famous being Paektu-San (백두산) and Kumgang-San (금강산).

North Korea will be celebrating Kim Il-song’s 100th birthday on 15 April 2012 and DPRK Founding day on 25 April 2012.

I expect it to have tons of celebrations and this will be the most royal one ever because Kim Il-song having a 100th birthday is not a small thing to them.

North Korea has some alliances.

North Korean "friends" include China and Singapore (yes, don’t be surprised).

And that’s about it. Only 2 countries I guess because USSR has so-called "betrayed" all communist countries

There is even a North Korean Embassy in Singapore. The first fast food restaurant in North Korea is opened by Singapore. North Korea imports about 3% of it’s fuel from Singapore. North Korean official Mr Rim has once visited Singapore.

Fun Fact: North Koreans are NOT allowed to look at ANY foreigners. It is an offence and they will be punished HEAVILY (other than the guides that will guide you around of course, they have been given special permission by DPRK Authorities).

Fun Fact 2: North Koreans are NOT allowed to talk to ANY foreigners. It is an offence and they will also be punished. (other than the guides)

Fun Fact 3: North Korean beer is very cheap. You can get a bottle for just €0.98

Fun Fact 4: If you speak bad of the North Korean leader or anything about DPRK, YOU WILL BE PUNISHED. EVEN FOREIGNERS.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/32849/travel-north-korea-pyongyangRSS for NodeTue, 05 May 2026 22:41:36 GMTMon, 05 Mar 2012 12:44:54 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:27:55 GMT]]>IMO, it’s still not the time to go to North Korea now.


The floods not very long ago has made North Korea have serious food shortages. 170 people were killed and many villages were submerged in water.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/832001https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/832001Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:27:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Sun, 19 Aug 2012 09:25:45 GMT]]>

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). 😄

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/826299https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/826299Sun, 19 Aug 2012 09:25:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Sun, 19 Aug 2012 06:40:03 GMT]]>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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/826239https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/826239Sun, 19 Aug 2012 06:40:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Sun, 19 Aug 2012 06:37:14 GMT]]>

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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/826238https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/826238Sun, 19 Aug 2012 06:37:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:28:23 GMT]]>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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/815026https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/815026Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:28:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:18:35 GMT]]>@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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/815019https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/815019Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:18:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:06:55 GMT]]>

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

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/765271https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/765271Fri, 18 May 2012 16:06:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Sun, 13 May 2012 14:39:43 GMT]]>Seem like quite expensive to visit North Korea. :yikes:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/761550https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/761550Sun, 13 May 2012 14:39:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:47:40 GMT]]>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.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/748199https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/748199Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:47:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:50:45 GMT]]>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

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/744017https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/744017Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:50:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:38:05 GMT]]>But you will get a North Korean visa

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726312https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726312Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:38:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:29:12 GMT]]>I don’t think you will get a stamp from North Korea unless you are from The People’s Republic of China. Any other nationality is unable to get hold of the stamp

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726309https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726309Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:29:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:25:33 GMT]]>

sydney:
Is it true? Someone tell me if you have North Korea stamp on your passport, you will have difficulty getting into US.

Ichigokun:

Oh by the way.

Most North Koreans are legible towards Chinese. They call it HanJa (한자)

Chinese was the writing system in North Korea before the 1880s.

Although Korean was invented in the year 1447 by King Sejong, many high-ranking officials and noblemen continued using HanJa until the 1880s.

Korean back then was used by the ordinary people and citizens of Korea.

So Korea actually had been using Chinese for more than a thousand years.

Korean history has alot to do with China.

In a historic record, Silla Bongi Jideok 3 (실라벙이지뎍삼) wrote that Korea adapted Chinese culture, law and order, surnames and clothing.

The title of Korean king was even given to Korea by China.

Korean kings wore blue or red clothing, with three dragons, meaning that the Korean king had lower authority compared to Chinese kings, who wore yellow clothing with NINE dragons on it.

Even the Korean today is heavily influenced by Chinese language. Look it up and you will get what I mean 😉

No. You won't have any problem if you visit the US even after attaining a North Korean stamp.

However, no goods from The Democratic People's Republic of Korea can be imported into The United States.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726303https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726303Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:25:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:08:38 GMT]]>Is it true? Someone tell me if you have North Korea stamp on your passport, you will have difficulty getting into US.

Ichigokun:
Oh by the way.

Most North Koreans are legible towards Chinese. They call it HanJa (한자)

Chinese was the writing system in North Korea before the 1880s.

Although Korean was invented in the year 1447 by King Sejong, many high-ranking officials and noblemen continued using HanJa until the 1880s.

Korean back then was used by the ordinary people and citizens of Korea.

So Korea actually had been using Chinese for more than a thousand years.

Korean history has alot to do with China.

In a historic record, Silla Bongi Jideok 3 (실라벙이지뎍삼) wrote that Korea adapted Chinese culture, law and order, surnames and clothing.

The title of Korean king was even given to Korea by China.

Korean kings wore blue or red clothing, with three dragons, meaning that the Korean king had lower authority compared to Chinese kings, who wore yellow clothing with NINE dragons on it.

Even the Korean today is heavily influenced by Chinese language. Look it up and you will get what I mean 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726289https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/726289Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:08:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:26:53 GMT]]>Oh by the way.


Most North Koreans are legible towards Chinese. They call it HanJa (한자)

Chinese was the writing system in North Korea before the 1880s.

Although Korean was invented in the year 1447 by King Sejong, many high-ranking officials and noblemen continued using HanJa until the 1880s.

Korean back then was used by the ordinary people and citizens of Korea.

So Korea actually had been using Chinese for more than a thousand years.

Korean history has alot to do with China.

In a historic record, Silla Bongi Jideok 3 (실라벙이지뎍삼) wrote that Korea adapted Chinese culture, law and order, surnames and clothing.

The title of Korean king was even given to Korea by China.

Korean kings wore blue or red clothing, with three dragons, meaning that the Korean king had lower authority compared to Chinese kings, who wore yellow clothing with NINE dragons on it.

Even the Korean today is heavily influenced by Chinese language. Look it up and you will get what I mean 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723782https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723782Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:26:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:21:13 GMT]]>

starlight1968sg:
Am very sure they were N Koreans because I even asked them how was it in their country. They were polite, spoke good english and even had email addresses.

After the training, I sent an email to them but received no reply.
Maybe that training conducted in one of our neighbouring countries was very special and thus 2 came ?
Yeah. The Internet traffic in North Korea is being monitored very closely by authorities 24/7.

So whatever you type, the authorities in DPRK can see it. Whatever your friends reply, the authorities in DPRK can see it.

If your NK friends replied you that DPRK is full of famine, propaganda, sick and evil leaders, he/she would go to prison camps with no doubt at all.

The connection is often routed into DPRK via China.

I kinda thought NK would ban English because it's an \"American\" language.

No idea they could speak it :?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723779https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723779Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:21:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:17:10 GMT]]>Am very sure they were N Koreans because I even asked them how was it in their country. They were polite, spoke good english and even had email addresses.

After the training, I sent an email to them but received no reply.
Maybe that training conducted in one of our neighbouring countries was very special and thus 2 came ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723775https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723775Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:17:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:07:59 GMT]]>

starlight1968sg:
I once met 2 north koreans during an overseas training. What surprised me was one of them (possibly the superior) gave each lecturer a present.

I'm surprised you can even find North Koreans outside North Korea. Haven't seen one before 😉 hope to see one sooner or later.

If they are out of DPRK they can defect right? Nobody wants to stay in North Korea anyway.

Famine, restriction on human rights.

All these problems are for their own DPRK citizens, foreigners will do just fine there.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723764https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723764Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:07:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:57:50 GMT]]>I once met 2 north koreans during an overseas training. What surprised me was one of them (possibly the superior) gave each lecturer a present.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723757https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723757Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:57:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Travel: North Korea - Pyongyang on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:48:34 GMT]]>You can travel to North Korea from these countries:


1. Dandong, China (the closest city of China from North Korea)
2. Shenyang, China
3. Moscow, Russia
4. Vladivostok, Russia
5. Bangkok, Thailand

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723751https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/723751Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:48:34 GMT