Democratic People's Republic of Korea / DPRK / Korea (north)

[drron]

A great TR.So different.Will give it some thought for the future.

 

[Chicken]

I don't think I'll read one as interesting, informative and of an eccentric destination as yours for a very long time.

Thank you for your feedback.

I agree with you. I mean, in this day and age, where can you go and come back with a story like Mr Nobody on my train? Where can you use your Australian privilege to challenge a train conductor and not just get away with it, but actually win?

I am planning my next trip to Joburg in 6 months, and instead of burning KF miles on SQ metal, I'm gonna burn them on Ethiopian Airlines (part of *A) and stop at Ethiopia. See if I would bump into some DYKWIA general?

 

[RooFlyer]

Great TR, thanks. i'm now researching North Korea for 2020! (As well as Sudan ... I'm looking to collect the whole set of 'bad counties' ... I already have Iran )

 

[Chicken]

As well as Sudan

Now that's brave!

 

[VPS]

Really interesting TR and thanks but it doesn’t make me want to visit North Korea. I’d rather do Iran or even Sudan

 

[JohnM]

Now that's brave!

Huh? . No way: Sussing Sudan

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for an extremely interesting TR of very different destination. I am afraid that I still have no intention of going there however.

 

[kermatu]

Thank you for sharing your experiences and views. An outstanding TR.

 

[moa999]

A great trip report.

One thing I hadn't realised (and thought worth adding here) is that you lose the ability to utilise a US ESTA if you travel to North Korea.

North Korea FAQs: Travel to the US & the ESTA Visa Waiver Program - Koryo Tours

What is the new ESTA Visa Waiver rule regarding travel to the US after travelling to North Korea? How will the new laws regarding the ESTA Visa Waiver Program affect me?

koryogroup.com

Just a consideration given the US visa process is reportedly a pita.

 

[Chicken]

One thing I hadn't realised (and thought worth adding here) is that you lose the ability to utilise a US ESTA if you travel to North Korea.

North Korea FAQs: Travel to the US & the ESTA Visa Waiver Program - Koryo Tours

What is the new ESTA Visa Waiver rule regarding travel to the US after travelling to North Korea? How will the new laws regarding the ESTA Visa Waiver Program affect me?

koryogroup.com

This only came into effect around June or July, it's something new.

Anyway, I just came back from North Korea again, landed in Sydney last week, for a 3 weeks road trip and domestic Air Koryo flights. I will write up my new trip report soon

 

[moa999]

Look forward to the report then.
Interesting timing on the ESTA given the Trump thaw in relations, and nasty being retrospective.

Had been suggested in a few vlogs I'd seen that a lot of the anti-US posters and rhetoric had been removed/ toned down. Did you notice this?

 

[RooFlyer]

A great trip report.

One thing I hadn't realised (and thought worth adding here) is that you lose the ability to utilise a US ESTA if you travel to North Korea.

North Korea FAQs: Travel to the US & the ESTA Visa Waiver Program - Koryo Tours

What is the new ESTA Visa Waiver rule regarding travel to the US after travelling to North Korea? How will the new laws regarding the ESTA Visa Waiver Program affect me?

koryogroup.com

Just a consideration given the US visa process is reportedly a pita.

Nth Korea joins the list of seven countries which result in loss of ESTA rights, introduced in Obama's time. I got a US Visa because I visited Iran and intend to visit Sudan. I'd say getting a US Visa is more inconvenient than a PITA, especially for me as I live in Tas and had to go to their Melbourne consulate for an 'interview' (not so much as an interview as a face to face meeting to pay the $$, deliver my passport and confirm a few perfunctory details before being told that I had been granted a visa and it would be posted back to me).

I've entered the US 3 times on the Visa (LAX x 1, MIA x 2) and it was no less painful than with an ESTA. At MIA they have electronic visa page reader!

 

[Chicken]

Had been suggested in a few vlogs I'd seen that a lot of the anti-US posters and rhetoric had been removed/ toned down. Did you notice this?

Anti US stuffs were all removed by beginning of 2018,which is the reason that you would not find any of these in this trip report. I could not even find any anti US poster to buy. They are near impossible to find now in Korea according to our tour guide.

Nth Korea joins the list of seven countries which result in loss of ESTA rights, introduced in Obama's time.

Not during Obama, it was only introduced in the last few months, and the tour company I used sent a notification on this.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not during Obama, it was only introduced in the last few months, and the tour company I used sent a notification on this.

I was meaning the other countries that disqualify you from an ESTA, if you visit: Iran, Sudan, Venezuela, Somalia, Libya, Iraq, and Yemen.

 

[JohnM]

I had to get a B1/B2 visa because of visiting Sudan and Iran. It was very straightforward, and made easy because there is a US consulate in PER. It’s valid for 5 years.