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Whatever they tell you to see and do. That's part of the problem. There are no truly free-range tourists in North Korea. It's not like if one was visiting Stockholm and suddenly decided it would be fun to travel north and visit Gällivare for the weekend, and was told it was out of the question.
They only let in a few americans for the Mass Games every year and that's it.
For the past 15 years tourists to north korea have basically taken the same tour. They show the same stuff to everyone and you can't talk to any locals or see any local life(not that there is much to see anyways).
For the record, I would absolutely love to be able to visit North Korea in whatever capacity that I would have the opportunity to. I have served in the U.S. Military and have an extensive knowledge of the country due to the duty I performed while serving. If I couldn't go there as a tourist I would like just as much to go there as a liberator (an I'm not talking in the false Dick Cheney sense).
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunspotzsz
Hypocrite!
Do you not buy things Made in China? It is a dictatorship.
I agree, I get tired of people railing against some type of entity but (perhaps intentionally) not realizing that every day they do what they advocate against. Do you use gasoline or diesel fuel in your vehicle? Some of that comes from countries with oppressive regimes in the Middle East, similiar cases can be made with many things you commonly purchase.
I can understand their original point, in paying to travel to North Korea you are directly funding their government. Oh well, consider that tourism generates a very small amount of revenue for North Korea by comparison to their drug and weapons trade.
I know people who have been to North Korea. Usually you get your visa and all the paper work done in Beijing and enter North Korea thorough China North Korea border. No, it's not that expensive, one package sold by Chinese travel agency costs about $300 to $350 for a four-day trip, visa fee, tip for North Korean guide not included (maybe for westerners there is a different price, after all, America is North Korea's sworn enemy, it'd only be natural to treat Americans as suckers.). Some tips about trip to North Korea written by people who have been there.
1. Don't bring English newspaper, magazines, etc. In particular, don't bring stuff published by South Korea. Chinese newspaper, magazine are ok.
2. Cellphone and passport will be taken away upon entering North Korea and given back to you before you leave.
3. It's not allowed to take unauthorized pictures, in particular, don't shoot picture of military installations, you might get yourself into trouble. It's possible to sneak shoot some unauthorized pictures though if you had an small camera and you were sneaky enough. If discovered, don't give your camera to them unless you have to, depend on the situation, they might not insist, but if you give them your camera, your pictures and possibly your camera will be gone for ever. (this is advice given to Chinese tourist, if you were an American, you probably don't want to try them.)
4. Have a few packs of cigarette or cheap MP3 ready, everywhere you go, you will be accompanied by North Korean guides or handlers, whatever you may call it, give them as present to your North Korean guide, it'd go a long way in smoothing the relationships and he/she might help you under circumstances such as the one described in 3.
5. bring a flashlight.
6. can choose several different traditional Chinese/Korean medicine as souvenirs. According to Chinese tourists, quality and packaging are quite good.
7. You can chat with your fellow tourists about Kim and North Korea, the guides will pretend they didn't hear what you guys were talking. But don't push any political/sensitive question/opinion on the guides, they can't answer you.
8. In hotel, there are casinos, swimming pool, sauna and massage service,
I can understand their original point, in paying to travel to North Korea you are directly funding their government. Oh well, consider that tourism generates a very small amount of revenue for North Korea by comparison to their drug and weapons trade.
BigSwede makes a point. But yeah, realistically, how much impact would the rather insignificant amount of money you would bring in there have.
Oh well, call me evil, but it's such a bizarre country that i'd be willing to pay a little bit to see the place with my own eyes. Before it collapses.
If not buying things in China were an option I'd probably do that. However in the US at least it's extremely difficult or impossible to do that as I know of people who tried it.
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