If I wanted to fly to North Korea, could I?

[Jack_Dawson]

San Diego to Pyongyang?

3,000 people died in a crash today, and nobody knows anything about it. North Korea really freaks me out.

[DianeG5385]

1. Maybe...

Probably easier than traveling to Cuba which is ludicrous!

[LeftCoast]

5. What's wrong w/ going to Cuba?

I'd love to go there. You just have to travel a circuitous route and remind them (the Cubans) not to stamp your passport.

[Jack_Dawson]

7. Nothing's wrong with Cuba, I guess

But don't I get thrown in jail if I go?

[NewJeffCT]

8. cuba was easy for some I knew

I know people that traveled to Cuba pretty easily. And, they went for vacation, not to visit anybody they knew there. They flew from the US and went in to central America and then flew in to Cuba from there.

I think they recently (within the past year) made it tougher, though.

[Kazak]

2. Seriously doubt it...

You could travel to South Korea without much difficulty, but not North Korea.

[charlie]

3. You could try arranging a visit

through their official site:

http://www.korea-dpr.com/travel.htm

(and probably enjoy the pleasure of lifelong surveillance when you get back)

[oostevo]

4. Nope ...

From that web site:
"Nationalities (passports) that cannot apply:
USA, Republic of Korea (South Korea)"

[Jack_Dawson]

6. Where the Hell...

Did you find that site? That site is one of the freakiest places I've traveled on the Net.

[charlie]

9. Heard about it when it first went online

Can't remember when, seems it was a couple of years ago. I've revisited a few times, it's changed a good bit, but has always been pretty creepy.

[-..__...]

15. check out the "friendship" link.

http://www.korea-dpr.com/defend.htm

The "Song of National Defence" (sic) video could have been lifted from "1984".

[Minstrel Boy]

10. Here's a pretty interesting travelogue I found a while ago

describing a trip to North Korea:

http://www.travel-library.com/asia/north_korea/trip.bakker.html

[charlie]

11. And here's an amazing account

from a pizza chef flown in to satisfy Dear Leader's craving for a slice:

http://www.atimes.com/koreas/CH04Dg01.html
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/DK22Dg01.html
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/DK23Dg01.html

[bhunt70]

22. now that is an interesting account.

[Jack_Dawson]

13. Fascinating! Thanks.

NK trips me out hardcore.

[JHB]

12. Of course you could....

You might get shot down or thrown in prison upon landing, but if you really want to, you could fly there.

[Heyo]

14. There are several interesting accounts...

.. on the web of people visiting there. (Google your way there if interested)..

Something about the place fascinates me, I guess because it's so closed and secretive..

I admit the social and political structure and philosophy and basically everything about the place is the antithesis of everything I believe in...I mean it's a Stalinist system for crying out loud.

Still... I guess it's the basic human need of wanting to know about things that are hidden....or to go to a scary place just because it's scary... or to see with your own eyes what few people have ever seen.

I don't think I would ever go.. too dangerous for so many reasons...

I guess I have to admit my curiosity and fascination with something so secret.

Heyo

[found object]

16. U.S.'ers are not allowed in North Korea

check it out. http://www.korea-dpr.com/tourin.htm

[Jack_Dawson]

18. Items not allowed in North Korea...

Plants, animals, drugs, explosives, weapons, any kind of pornography, mass printed propaganda, radio, wireless or satellite communicator (GPS), mobile phone.

Other articles may be inspected by the immigration authorities.


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[bhunt70]

17. probably not, but there is a great documentary on NK

they played it on showtime. Man, my dad and I talked about it for a long time. It's like disneyland but poor.

Traffic cops standing in the middle of highways directing non-existent traffic. Lavish hotels with no one ever in them. It's all a facade.

I can't remember the name of the documentary but it was great, on Showtime I think.

[Jack_Dawson]

19. If you can remember the name, I'd like to order it

[bhunt70]

20. I think it's just called "North Korea" here's some info...

http://www.iemmys.tv/nominee/categories/clips/Doc4.html

"North Korea"
KRO Television (Netherlands)
Synopsis: For six years, Netwerk tried to obtain a journalist's visa for North Korea, but without success. Finally the crew, using a cover, managed to obtain permission to travel around the country, albeit under the constant scrutiny of three regular minders. A conscious choice was made not to attempt to engage in anonymous conversations with North Koreans critical of the regime because of the unacceptably high risk to them. However, a number of 'Selected Ones' do feature in the film. They are North Koreans who have permission to speak to foreigners. The ideal image of the regime presented by these people speaks volumes. Nevertheless, a visit to a country so incomparable to any other society in the world, it raises more questions than answers.
*******************************************************************

sounds like the the one I saw since I do remember the guy making the documentary was from the Netherlands.

[charlie]

21. In the meantime

bookmark the pizza guy's links above and read them when you can. I know the story sounds like it'll be light frippery, but it's a remarkably rich and near-hallucinogenic account.