03.03.2025 12:30
In the first official authorized trip to North Korea after a five-year hiatus, Western tourists witnessed a surreal performance by North Korean schoolchildren dancing and singing alongside animated images of ballistic missiles. This was the first time since 2020 that tourists were allowed to enter the country.
A group of Western tourists witnessed a surreal performance by North Korean schoolchildren dancing and singing alongside animated images of ballistic missiles during the first officially sanctioned trip to the "Hermit Kingdom" in five years.
This disturbing choreographed show was just the tip of the iceberg for a handful of adventurous travelers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia who embarked on a four-day journey to the remote Rason region of the Asian country last week.
One tourist explained that the trip was monitored so closely by Kim Jong Un's oppressive regime that he had to ask for permission even to go to the bathroom.
"They had five years to fix everything. North Koreans are very sensitive about what they show to tourists. If this is the best they can show, I can't even imagine what else is going on outside," stated another visitor.
This was the first time since 2020 that tourists were allowed into the country — the notoriously secretive nation had completely shut itself off at the start of the pandemic, leaving many wondering if Westerners would ever be able to cross its borders again.
However, a company organizing trips to the country, Young Pioneer Tours, was finally able to resume operations after being blocked for the past five years.
Rowan Beard, who runs the company, told the BBC, "North Koreans are not robots. They have their own views, goals, and sense of humor. In our briefing, we encourage people to listen to and understand them."
Beard noted that after receiving approval, the tourism group had no trouble filling its current quotas, with spots selling out in just five hours.
However, this was not an ordinary holiday; there was no mobile phone or internet service — not even an ATM was available.
Tourists were given a strict list of rules, including not insulting the country's leaders, not mocking North Korean ideology, and being non-judgmental about their unusual and oppressive lifestyle.
Additionally, visitors were constantly monitored and closely watched by the country's ever-ready observers to ensure they did not violate restrictions or deviate from the itinerary.
"Even when I wanted to go to the bathroom once or twice, I had to inform them," said 28-year-old British YouTuber Mike O'Kennedy.
"I had never had to do that anywhere in the world."
The group entered the country via China on their trip to Rason, located 800 kilometers from the capital Pyongyang. Pyongyang used to host occasional tourism groups, but under strict surveillance and without real freedom of movement.
As with previous trips to North Korea, travelers were kept under tight control; they made pre-arranged visits to places like a beer factory, a newly built and well-stocked pharmacy, and a school.
A group of eight-year-old children performed a show for Western visitors, joyfully singing along to images of dozens of ballistic missiles being launched and striking buildings in an animated metropolis with a violent explosion displayed on a large projection screen.
North Korea carefully crafts its image to the outside world with official photographs released by the Kim family dynasty, which has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1948.
The photos depict bright, thriving cityscapes that some visitors noted were very different in reality.
"The roads are terrible, the sidewalks are uneven, and the buildings are oddly constructed," said Joe Smith, a former NK News writer who has been to the country three times, noting that the outdated decor of a dilapidated hotel reminded him of "his grandmother's living room."
O'Kennedy stated that despite his best efforts to toe the line, at least one risky main road opened up due to Western understanding.