A British influencer recently traveled to North Korea with a tour group, becoming one of the first Western tourists to visit this closed-off country in 5 years. In an interview with the media, he revealed that their itinerary in North Korea was closely monitored by guides, even having to report when using the restroom.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, North Korea had completely banned foreign tourists from entering until last year when it reopened, limited to Russian tourists only.
In a rare move, North Korea allowed a foreign tour group to visit the country last month, marking the first Western tourists to visit in 5 years. The group entered North Korea from Yanji City in Jilin Province, China, embarking on a five-day-four-night journey from February 20th to 25th. Their itinerary only included a visit to the Rason Special Economic Zone located at the border of China, North Korea, and Russia.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) interviewed some members of the tour group, including 28-year-old British influencer Mike O’Kennedy, along with tourists from France, Germany, and Australia.
O’Kennedy shared a video of his North Korea journey on YouTube on March 1st, which has garnered over 2.5 million views to date.
He expressed surprise at the strict control in North Korea, being accompanied by local guides throughout, strictly following pre-approved itineraries such as visits to a brewery, school, and a pharmacy stocked with a variety of medicines.
According to O’Kennedy, he had to inform the guides when he needed to use the restroom, a situation he had never experienced anywhere else in the world.
One of the leaders from Suffolk, England, Ben Weston, likened the trip to a “school field trip,” emphasizing that individuals couldn’t leave the hotel without a guide.
Despite the accompanying guides, O’Kennedy witnessed glimpses of real-life in North Korea. He noted the sight of everyone working, giving the impression that no one was idling, portraying a somewhat desolate atmosphere.
During a visit to a school, children performed a show mimicking an intercontinental missile hitting its target on stage, with a backdrop displaying images of missile explosions. (Seen in O’Kennedy’s video at 27:22)
Currently, foreign tourists are still unable to enter the capital, Pyongyang. Koryo Tours, headquartered in Beijing, is one of the Western companies permitted to operate tours in North Korea. Greg Vaczi, the manager at Koryo Tours, speculated that North Korean authorities chose Rason as a trial point due to its relatively easy control.
Experienced visitor Joe Smith, who previously worked for the “NK News” site specializing in reporting North Korean developments, described this trip as his third to North Korea. Smith expressed that the more times one visits, the less one feels they know. Each visit seems to reveal a little more, raising further questions.
In the eyes of knowledgeable guides, this group of tourists faced more restrictions compared to previous visits, with fewer opportunities for outings, whether to a barber shop, supermarket, or engaging with locals in conversation.
Vaczi mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic was often cited as a reason, with North Korean authorities seemingly still concerned. It’s challenging to discern whether this concern is genuine or a pretext for controlling people.
Smith observed that buildings in Rason appeared dilapidated with dim lighting, lacking heating except for their hotel rooms. He recounted an experience touring a cold, dark, desolate art gallery, feeling as if it were specially opened for them.
Despite official photos depicting North Korea as clean and bright, Smith highlighted encountering poor road conditions, strange architecture, old and dirty hotel rooms resembling “grandma’s sitting room,” with broken windows.
Moreover, these tourists needed to be cautious about their interactions in the local language. North Korea enforces strict laws prohibiting locals from freely expressing themselves. Asking too many questions or speaking too much to locals could potentially put oneself and guides in danger.