North Korea - Pohjois-Korea

North Korea (officially Democratic People 's Republic of Korea) is located In East Asia, North of the Korean Peninsula. As a border neighbor, it has a south South Korea, in the north China and Russia. The country is officially at war with South Korea, as no peace agreement has been signed since the Korean War in the 1950s. The country is the last of the real communist states, and strongly isolated from the rest of the world.

You can only travel to the country with a travel guide set by the government. Tourism is limited to certain destinations and the activities of tourists are closely monitored. For example, photos are not allowed inappropriate and do not speak to locals without the permission of the guide.

Cities

• Pyongyang
• Kaesong
• Nampo
• Wonsan
• Sinuiju
• Pyongson
• Anju
• Hamhung

Other items

• Panmunjom

Understand

North Korea is a people’s republic that adheres to the Juche idea. A version of Marxist-Leninism for Korean needs, formulated by Kim Il Sung, which includes a strong appreciation of the party, a cult of leadership and an emphasis on self-sufficiency.

North Korea officially has a "unified party system" in which the Korean Workers' Party holds real power. There are other parties as well, but they do not oppose the ruling party. The country’s highest office is the prime minister, but the real power is held by Kim Jong-Un, the general secretary of the Korean Workers ’Party and chairman of the National Security Commission. Very little is known about Kim Jong-Un in the West because he has only recently taken the lead in the country. The country’s former leader, his father Kim Jong-il, was generally considered an authoritarian dictator.

North Korea maintains a strictly low profile and very little objective information is available about the country. There are no independent media outlets in the country and it is difficult for foreign media to enter the country.

In its economy, North Korea strives for self-sufficiency and independence from neighboring countries. Therefore, the country is very vulnerable to population deaths and famine caused by environmental devastation. In the early 1990s, more than 3 million North Koreans starved to death. There is still a severe shortage of food and electricity. North Korea also provides seemingly free health care to its citizens, but in practice, doctors ’salaries are often frozen and they are bribed to work with various bribes. Hospitals also have a constant shortage of almost everything and even amputations have to be done without pain relief.

Climate

Summers are hot and in winter the weather is a little milder.

Come

At least Traveler organizes trips from Finland to North Korea [1] and Olympia Long Distance Travel Agency [2].

By plane

You can only fly to North Korea From China. North Korean airline Air Koryo makes regular flights from Beijing Pyongyang. Note that Air Koryo is the so-called "blacklisted" because it does not meet all safety criteria.

By train

There is a direct rail connection from Pyongyang to Beijing, which, however, is rarely served. Some package tours use this road when returning to Beijing. The journey takes about 23 hours, so passengers stay in sleeping cars. There are also rail connections to Russia, but these are not open to tourists.

By bus

Move

Getting around is only possible under the guidance of a local guide. Tourists cannot move freely, nor can they chat with locals. Leaving the capital also requires a permit.

Talk

North Korea speaks Korean. The local population does not speak much English, but e.g. in addition to English, at least Russia, China, France, Japan, and Spain are commonly spoken in hotels. The Korean language spoken in South and North Korea differs somewhat in that the North Korean accent may sound rather strange to a foreigner.

Buy

The North Korean currency has won. However, foreigners are not allowed to use the local currency. In Pyongyang there are special shops that are only for tourists. They sell e.g. soft drinks, potato chips, small snacks and souvenirs.

North Korea has quite limited shopping opportunities and travel packages usually include full board, so if necessary, the country can make a very small amount of money. Tourists use the euro or the Chinese yuan as their currency.

0.5 liter water bottle € 0.40, soft drink can € 0.60, candy bag € 3.50, stamp to Europe € 1, postcard selection € 2, poster selection € 6, Pyongyang Times newspaper € 1.20, book € 1-5, large photo book 15 €, tickets for Arirang Mass Games performances approx. 50 €

Eat

There are several restaurants in Pyongyang and Kaesong, with menus ranging from local food to Italian cuisine. In Pyongyang, the cold noodles of Pyongyang, which Ogryon Restaurant specializes in, are worth a visit. The local shops have a small amount of food and are usually only available to Koreans. There are various fast food kiosks in the city and you can buy snacks from several hotels.

Juo

Various insam root vodkas are popular in Korea. As a North Korean specialty, we can mention snake spirit, which has a very strong alcohol content. The wines are mainly produced in the Kaesong region. Beer is inexpensive and is available in several different qualities. The price level of alcohol varies from about 0.50 euros to 15 euros, depending on the quality, etc.

Sleep

There are several international hotels in Pyongyang that, despite their time lag, tend to be high. Some hotels may have in-room eavesdroppers, amazing but true. The most famous of these are the Koryo Hotel in the city center and the Yanggagdo Hotel by the Taedong River. Pyongyang, and Sosan Hotel are also suitable for foreigners. Staying in hotels is not disproportionately expensive and the hotel service is friendly. The largest hotels have several restaurants, bars, saunas, hairdressers, shops and souvenir shops.

Study

There are several universities and colleges in North Korea, the largest of which was Kim Il Sung University, founded in 1946. Finnish educational institutions do not have an exchange agreement with local students, but a lot of students study in the country, mainly from Africa and Asia. The country also offers tourist Korean language courses, which can be requested from travel agents.

Work

It is almost impossible for a foreigner to get a job from North Korea.

Stay safe

North Korea is a safe country for foreigners. However, it is worth considering local customs to avoid possible boredom. The most important thing is to remember respect for the leaders of the country. However, if a tourist does something deeply offensive, he or she will not get into trouble himself, but his guide may receive a very severe punishment.

Stay healthy

Health care in the country is quite underdeveloped. Malaria and cholera can occur in North Korea. It is a good idea to book the necessary medicines in your home country before you travel. However, foreign tourists are offered high-quality health care, at least in the country’s capital, Pyongyang. Only bottled water should be used for drinking and brushing teeth. The milk is not pasteurized, so it needs to be boiled. The fish and meat you eat should be well cooked, as should the vegetables. The fruit should also peel.

Respect

It is important to remember that the current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, and his late father, Kim Jong-Il, and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, occupy a very high position in North Korean culture and society. Portraits of leaders are in every home, school, subway, and factories and workplaces. Koreans have little to tolerate criticism of their political and social system. In connection with official trips, e.g. laying flowers at Kim Il Sung’s monument and a visit to his mausoleum are almost mandatory items not to be refused - unless you want to offend their hosts. This respect also extends to their images. When sending a postcard, the oversized stamp must be upright, even if it covers part of the address. The image of the marked leader must not be inserted horizontally. The image of the director on the front page of the newspaper should not be folded in the middle or left on the floor. In Korea, the elderly and authorities are respected, so it is important to remember polite ways of working with them.

Take contact

There are hardly any internet connections in the country, although at least the Koryo Hotel and Kim Chaek University of Technology have access to the internet.

Long distance calls can be made and received at all major hotels as well as at the International Telecentre.

Postal

Sold to tourists revolution stamps, which differ from the signs used by local people. If you plan to send a card or letter, always think carefully about what you write, as it will likely be read again before the actual sending. The use of the Finnish language does not help in this matter, as the card will not be sent until it has been officially accepted by someone. The inspectors also include those who speak Finnish.

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