Interested in visiting North Korea?

[Machjo]

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail recently inviting me again to visit North Korea this summer. This is not the first time I'd been invited to go there. A few years ago, another friend had invited me to go on a first trip, but I'd refused since this was right after North Korea had announced that it had nuclear weapons, so I'd decided to play it safe and stay in China.

I'm surprised that this opportunity continues to present itself, and there has been such a trip every year since. I havn't gone yet myself, but am curious to know how many Canadians would be interested in such a trip.

Would you travel to North Korea if the price is right?

 

[Johnnny]

ive been to seoul in South Korea, yea its worth it.... South Korea at least

 

[Machjo]

But North Korea is not as open. Few companies even have the permission to organize tours of North Korea. And they're usually if not always based in China. This essentially means that you must go to China first to enter North Korea from there to the best of my knowledge anyway unless you're a diplomat going on government business.

 

[MHz]

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail recently inviting me again to visit North Korea this summer. This is not the first time I'd been invited to go there. A few years ago, another friend had invited me to go on a first trip, but I'd refused since this was right after North Korea had announced that it had nuclear weapons, so I'd decided to play it safe and stay in China.

I'm surprised that this opportunity continues to present itself, and there has been such a trip every year since. I havn't gone yet myself, but am curious to know how many Canadians would be interested in such a trip.

Would you travel to North Korea if the price is right?

I'd hold it up to a light just to make sure it didn't have a military watermark. Sign up see the world and all that old school stuff is past, welcome to the new USS Shanghaid, lol

 

[Johnnny]

Would you travel to North Korea if the price is right?

As long as you can guarantee your safety then id go for it... Its a unique oppourtunity

then id do it for sure...

Reasons for tourism aside. If you went there and got familiar with the korean language and seen some sights in the North,it would make you stand out when we get drafted for world war 3.

 

[MHz]

Take a camera and take lots of shots, that way you are worth more when you come back ........if you come back.

 

[Machjo]

When I was invited, I was told that it was a guided tour, with much emphasis on the guided part. Probably a good idea not to stray from the group.

 

[Ron in Regina]

With that Thread title, I expected to come here and find Spam for some
Travel Agency. I'm very pleasantly surprised. :lol::lol::lol:

Machjo, is your Friend either in, or a frequent traveler to, North Korea?
If you're comfortable with going, this might be an experience of a life
time.

I know very little about the region, but I recommend that you not watch
"Team America World Police" to learn about the North Korean culture
in preparation for your trip. 8O
________________________

 

[Johnnny]

LOL

Dont stray away from the tour group and get Yellow Fever in the wrong place

 

[Machjo]

With that Thread title, I expected to come here and find Spam for some
Travel Agency. I'm very pleasantly surprised. :lol::lol::lol:

Machjo, is your Friend either in, or a frequent traveler to, North Korea?
If you're comfortable with going, this might be an experience of a life
time.

I know very little about the region, but I recommend that you not watch
"Team America World Police" to learn about the North Korean culture
in preparation for your trip. 8O
________________________

The first person to invite me a few years ago was Chinese. The more recent one represents a Polish company (Monda Turismo), though it also works in close collaboration with a local Chinese municipality on the North Korean border in Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture, Jilin Province.

 

[Ron in Regina]

So is this a "Friend" inviting you or a "business associate" who's trying
to fill seats on a tour? Do you feel comfortable going? Researched the
current political situation with respect to foreign western tourists? Is there
a travel advisory issued by the Canadian Gov't regarding N. Korea? 8O

 

[MHz]

How hard is to add diplomatic immunity added to a passport, is it a yearly fee or 'pay as you commit' thing?

 

[Trex]

Interested in visiting North Korea?


No.
Not now, not ever.

More grey concrete Soviet inspired buildings row upon row.

Poor,hungry, frightened workers trudging about.
Culture,religion and the arts stifled.

If you have friends or family there I could see it.

But for me it ranks well up there as one of the least desirable places on the planet to visit.

Whats to see?
Apathy and crushed human spirits?

Asia and South Asia are woderful places to see.
You could spend a lifetime exploring places like China and India.

North Korea?
I'll pass.

Trex

 

[Machjo]

So is this a "Friend" inviting you or a "business associate" who's trying
to fill seats on a tour? Do you feel comfortable going? Researched the
current political situation with respect to foreign western tourists? Is there
a travel advisory issued by the Canadian Gov't regarding N. Korea? 8O

No, he was just a friend, but a good friend, though I would have had to pay my own, especially sinse he was much poorer than me too. As it turns out, he has gone into the tourism business sinse, but not to North Korea. He takes Eastern European tour groups mostly through China, all over China.

 

[Machjo]

How hard is to add diplomatic immunity added to a passport, is it a yearly fee or 'pay as you commit' thing?

It costs a kiss on the butt, and it's a daily fee.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Kim Jong il is a great leader and I highly recommend you visit the paradise also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

 

[Machjo]

Kim Jong il is a great leader and I highly recommend you visit the paradise also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

You're joking, right?

If I go, it would be to get to know the people, not the government.

 

[Machjo]

Durka, even if you're a communist, that regime is not there to help the poor as communists are supposed to.

 

[Machjo]

Interested in visiting North Korea?


No.
Not now, not ever.

More grey concrete Soviet inspired buildings row upon row.

Poor,hungry, frightened workers trudging about.
Culture,religion and the arts stifled.

If you have friends or family there I could see it.

But for me it ranks well up there as one of the least desirable places on the planet to visit.

Whats to see?
Apathy and crushed human spirits?

Asia and South Asia are woderful places to see.
You could spend a lifetime exploring places like China and India.

North Korea?
I'll pass.

Trex

You don't want to see for yourself?

When I was in China, though what much in the Canadian media about it was true, much was also not even covered. Who's to say that there are other things we could learn about it that our media doesn't cover?

The human spirit is resilient, and though China had less freedom than Canada overall, I'd made some very good friends there. Not eveything revolves around government. What about just making friends with the locals, getting to know them? Trust me, no government can ever be in every living room all the time.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Durka, even if you're a communist, that regime is not there to help the poor as communists are supposed to.

How dare you question the motives of the "Dear Leader" ? He is generous and provides to all his children. Juche is a flawless system, to question it is a perilous endeavour.