North Korea

The radio thing might not be too over the top, I'm sure I've read something somewhere (from tourists) saying they reguarly blast out patriotic messages and songs day and night in the bigger 'cities'.

Fascinating and frightening country.
 
yeah i believe that part easily enough, but kill you if you turn it off?? i don't think so

I think the general population is so brainwashed after all these decades that they don't even need to threaten the population like that anymore
 
Knives is pretty much spot on.

Not sure about the radio being permanently on but there is no democracy or freedom, little food and electricity, everything is government controlled so they can be brainwashed.

Pretty grim.

North Korea is a terrible place.
 
what about those japanese footballers who are in the NK team, will they ever be allowed to leave after choosing to play for NK, i worry for them.
 
So who fancies going on holiday there for a few weeks and maybe permenantly check out the salt mines? i hear thats the place to meet people in North Korea ;)
 
Glorious Leader keeps his utopia hidden away from the clutches and prying eyes of those who wander into his nation from the decadent West! North Korea is the mightiest and most respected nation on the Earth!

All Hail Kim Jong Il!
 
qqg3 said:
The radio thing might not be too over the top, I'm sure I've read something somewhere (from tourists) saying they reguarly blast out patriotic messages and songs day and night in the bigger 'cities'.

Fascinating and frightening country.
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Every hour on the hour from 6am 'til Midnight.
 
Mik3 said:
There's a couple of good documentaries on Youtube showing the terrible conditions people are forced to live in.

Documentary: Inside Undercover In North Korea

Documentary - Welcome to North Korea

Check out this one :(

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"Absolute power corrupts absolutely"

Some truly shocking and disturbing footage, especially at the end of Inside Undercover In North Korea
 
It's a fair bet that state media will say they beat England 32-0, the USA 40-0 and Taekwondo'd the South Korean team to death after beating them 50-0 and went on to win the World Cup.
 
without a doubt the NK media will be forced to publish reports that they have indeed won the World Cup, just like Kim Jong il's first round of golf with a reported 11 holes in one and finished 38 under par !
 
starfighter said:
Knives is pretty much spot on.

Not sure about the radio being permanently on but there is no democracy or freedom, little food and electricity, everything is government controlled so they can be brainwashed.

Pretty grim.

North Korea is a terrible place.
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But it is all the people have ever known, and they are told by the government that they have the best living standards in the world. Most of them are therefore happy.
 
I went there for a holiday a couple of years back. I'll try and post some thoughts tonight while watching the game wearing my Dear Leader lapel pins.
 
I went back in 2008 for around 10 days. I've always meant to write a bit of an article on it but haven't got round to it yet!

I got in via train from Dandong (the place where the Chinese soldiers were shot dead about 10 days ago).

The train ride in was pretty interesting. Saw lots of dilapidated old soviet trains, loads of people working in rice fields who didn't look in the best of health. I was met at Pyongyang train station by two "tour guides" (government officials) who were at my side for the entire time.

I stayed at the international hotel which is on an island (so you can't take good photos of everyday life there). They check the size of your lenses on entry (there's a maximum size / zoom level). You're not allowed outside your hotel on your own so you can't have a look around. There's no bars / restaurants for locals - they are only for tourists and possibly the elite of Pyongyang. There's a casino and brothel in the hotel (which I didn't visit!) but they are mainly for the Chinese tourists (gambling illegal in China).

There's a kind of curfew at night so socialising would be pretty impossible. Not too sure about the education. We were ushered around a school to witness children learning. One was an IT class and the kids were using an old version of visual studio. They were just typing rubbish into the screen from what I could make out but that might have been my suspicions getting the better of me!

Completely surreal place. Everyone I spoke to (I was allowed to speak to) were mind washed. I got the sense that they really do believe their great leader is a God.

The only time I witnessed locals in a "Non setup" way was when I had to go to a place to have my photo taken for a Chinese re-entry visa (I forgot to bring one). The people in the queue were in disbelief but I was whisked so fast past them I couldn't get a word out.

Anyway - apart from being taken around all the official places - it was pretty boring as you can imagine. Photos are here.

If anyone is interested in visiting after that boring description - PM me ;) You can go in a group but you don't get the NK visa in your passport and personal government tour guides! ;) I went via a Chinese tour company in Dandong who is well trusted over on the lonely planet forums.
 
Ironic Namesake said:
There's tours available of North Korea from 1000-1600 EUR ... have to say I'm tempted :p

Something different for once !
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Going on one of these 'Tours' is pretty much the same as donating money straight to the North Korean government in exchange for which they will take you on a highly sanitised tour of selected locations. You will see nothing of local culture and have no oppertunity to explore and interact without strict supervision. Save your money.
 
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