Experiences shared by tourists who visited North Korea

North Korea remains one of the world’s most enigmatic and least understood nations. Those who have ventured into this secretive land return with intriguing tales that shed light on the isolated country’s unusual norms and experiences. The narratives shared by individuals who visited North Korea offer rare glimpses into a world sheltered from the global stage.

“When I was there, they asked me, ‘Is there music in other countries?’ and it struck me as incredibly bizarre. They seemed so isolated from the outside world.”

“In many hotels where we stayed, if you used the tap, you had to wear rubber slippers. There was a strange chance of getting an electric shock from the taps.”

“Their lack of knowledge about tampons was surprising. When airport officials inspected my luggage, they couldn’t understand what a tampon was until another officer explained it, leaving them embarrassed.”

“We witnessed parks suddenly light up with playing children upon our arrival, only for the lights to go out and the children vanish when we left, almost like a staged performance.”

“Museums contained oddities; for instance, a spoon Kim Il-sung supposedly used to taste Kimchi at a local factory was exhibited, and some items with photos weren’t even from North Korea but South Korea.”

“We attended a children’s performance reenacting the Korean War. Strangely, the kids portraying American and South Korean soldiers had their faces painted to resemble mice.”

“During my 2008 visit, the roads were deserted, and spotting a car other than ours was incredibly rare.”

“Despite having large markets, everything inside was singular. For instance, only one brand of chips or one type of coffee.”

“Buildings and streets were filled with photos and signs glorifying their leaders’ greatness.”

“Our tour car bumped into a cyclist, and instead of stopping, the driver continued driving, saying that all roads belong to the state and the cyclist should have taken that risk.”

“During military demonstrations, we saw horses performing peculiar moves, and when a driver fell off, despite a broken leg, they tried to continue the show. I hope that mistake didn’t cost them dearly.”

“The war museum showcased photos of Japanese soldiers allegedly eating North Korean babies.”

“Unexpectedly, we were allowed to enter an American museum nearby. It was well-designed, but the contents were quite chilling, displaying uncensored photos of Americans killing women and children and a fabricated video depicting America suddenly starting the war, which we had to watch for three hours.”

“Knowing North Korea’s bad reputation, I didn’t have high expectations, but the food was surprisingly good, and the people were friendly.”

“The most intriguing part for me was armed soldiers stationed at the hotel entrance to prevent locals from engaging in conversation with us.”

Have you visited North Korea, and if so, what was your experience like?