Easy question, easy answer. Or not?
To clarify, I do not sympathise with the regime in Pyongyang and this is not about politics.
Background: Maybe 5 years ago I learnt about the possibility to visit North Korea. It's not as difficult as one might think (or at least as I always thought). Pay ca. 1,000 EUR to a travel agency and off you go, from PEK on Air Koryo's IL214 onto the 5-day all-inclusive package tour. Of course, you only get to see what the regime wants you to see. I always wanted to do this, to see it myself as it seems to be like travelling back in time, to the '60s or even to medieval times.
What such a tour is like is probably best described here:
Inside North Korea: the ultimate package tour | Travel | The Observer
Now with the recent developments in North Korea I was reminded of this destination on my to-do list, and it immediately jumped back to the top. I mean what if the situation changes dramatically in North Korea, better do this as soon as possible, as it is relatively stable at the moment.
Anyway, usually I do not consult my travel plans with too many people (except +1 obviously who should agree where we are going, and +1 is on board). So we mentioned these plans to family and a few friends and the reaction was, well, interesting. The most positive one was "You are old enough to know yourself what you're doing." Other reactions were ranging from shock and disbelief to offending sarcasm and trying to talk us out of it. To be honest I haven’t expected people to be too positive about this, but also I hadn’t expected it to polarize in the way it did.
So what’s your opinion, would you be keen to go, or is this strictly off limits? I am not necessarily asking to give me any advise, as I have made my decision (if it works out time wise later this year is another question), but more keen to learn about your point of view.
To clarify, I do not sympathise with the regime in Pyongyang and this is not about politics.
Background: Maybe 5 years ago I learnt about the possibility to visit North Korea. It's not as difficult as one might think (or at least as I always thought). Pay ca. 1,000 EUR to a travel agency and off you go, from PEK on Air Koryo's IL214 onto the 5-day all-inclusive package tour. Of course, you only get to see what the regime wants you to see. I always wanted to do this, to see it myself as it seems to be like travelling back in time, to the '60s or even to medieval times.
What such a tour is like is probably best described here:
Inside North Korea: the ultimate package tour | Travel | The Observer
Now with the recent developments in North Korea I was reminded of this destination on my to-do list, and it immediately jumped back to the top. I mean what if the situation changes dramatically in North Korea, better do this as soon as possible, as it is relatively stable at the moment.
Anyway, usually I do not consult my travel plans with too many people (except +1 obviously who should agree where we are going, and +1 is on board). So we mentioned these plans to family and a few friends and the reaction was, well, interesting. The most positive one was "You are old enough to know yourself what you're doing." Other reactions were ranging from shock and disbelief to offending sarcasm and trying to talk us out of it. To be honest I haven’t expected people to be too positive about this, but also I hadn’t expected it to polarize in the way it did.
So what’s your opinion, would you be keen to go, or is this strictly off limits? I am not necessarily asking to give me any advise, as I have made my decision (if it works out time wise later this year is another question), but more keen to learn about your point of view.
. On entry you get a visa page stapled into your passport, which is removed when you leave the country.
