Would you travel to ... North Korea?

[Timba-Jet]

Part of the travel experience is to see, learn, immerse yourself in a different culture. Hopefully that gives you more perspective when we return to Australia.

For that reason, sure North Korea is an experience. Not at near the top of my list, though Sth Korea is another story.

With all international travel, provided you do your research and understand the risks (if any) and importantly know how to minimize them, then it comes down to individual thresholds. Eg some Aussies will never consider a country like India due to poverty, risk of food poisoning etc.

 

[jsoprano]

Thanks for the multitude of opinions so far.

Although I don't agree entirely, I completely understand the point that casanovawa is making. I definitely agree with Hvr, only because I travel to a certain country does not mean I agree with their policies. And I am not going there to be brainwashed, I consider myself intelligent enough to be able to look behind the courtain, and read between the lines.

 

[notzac]

Though in Australia, because ACE is the Underwriter they are exempt from those US limitations (Cuba is on the US list too).

That's really interesting - the policy material for my AmEx card said they wouldn't cover travel to embargoed countries..! Maybe that's one of the points of difference with the policies issued for non-charge cards?

 

[Meggsy]

Although I don't agree entirely, I completely understand the point that casanovawa is making. I definitely agree with Hvr, only because I travel to a certain country does not mean I agree with their policies. And I am not going there to be brainwashed, I consider myself intelligent enough to be able to look behind the courtain, and read between the lines.

I would definitely travel to North Korea although I would cool my heels for a while to see which direction the new leader decides to head in. I don't agree that by visiting you are supporting the regime either. I believe it to be an exchange/sharing of culture and support of the downtrodden local industry and people in some small way by visiting places like this.:-|

 

[haydensydney]

That's really interesting - the policy material for my AmEx card said they wouldn't cover travel to embargoed countries..! Maybe that's one of the points of difference with the policies issued for non-charge cards?

Only caveat that I would make would be that this happened some two+ years ago, so things may have changed.

I would recommend that travellers obtain advice on any insurance coverage limitations with their provider, as one wouldn't want to be stranded in some hick North Korean village with some rare disease

 

[cove]

Swimming the China border river to get out of North Korea is now the worlds new equivalent of the Berlin wall in its darkest hour.
Nup I can avoid N.Korea.

 

[scaredeycat]

If I want to see misery and suffering I simply have to go downstairs to the Emergency department. Overseas travel for me is for relaxation - cultural exchange is reserved for restaurants and museums, I'm afraid. Besides, I suspect that OW doesn't have much of a lounge in Pyongyang and there's little chance of earning status credits...

 

[casanovawa]

There are lots of countries who have policies I disagree with including Australia. Indeed every country I have travelled to, has policies I disagree with but I still go. Maybe they are right and I am wrong? Who knows but at least I can say I've been there and seen it with my own eyes.

Travel means I broaden my experience and hopefully those of the people I interact with.

It also means that the people get to know that people from other countries are not monsters etc. It is a two way street. If enough people visit then maybe there will be a groundswell against the totalitarian regime.

After all Ceausescu (former Romanian despot) supposedly fell because his people were exposed to Western television programs. They saw a better alternative and took it.


My visit to Sth Korea in Feb 2011 showed me one side and I think it would be interesting to see the other side.

Sorry don't want to moralise, but please don't insult my intelligence (or the suffering the people of NK have endured) by glibly equating Australia or most other countries 'disagreeable policies' with a regime that systematically is prepared to starve and brain wash and abuse its people... They would give their right (and probably left) arm to be one of our under privileged types... It will probably take years or decades to find out how many millions died and how searing an experience it was, but i have read about the 10 million or so people who suffered and died in the soviet union due to a very similar government created famine and the stories are just disgusting as to what happened to families and children and all... At least you can go there and have a "cultural exchange" and then leave while the NK people are locked into the insane asylum...

Have to say one test i have about whether we are right or other systems are is if people are willing to swim shark infested waters, or risk getting shot crossing barbed wired walls or tunneling under them for months risking being locked in re-education camps for years or run over by tanks protesting... To me that is proof positive that their actual day to day experiences speak volumes and trump any comfortable arm chair theoretical or academic musings here in the big bad west... But i guess a 5 day tour of la la land could also be pretty persuasive...

And i highly doubt anyone will ask many questions of you that don't accord with the party line (there probably incapable of even thinking anything else after all these years even if there wasn't the thought control police everywhere) and i seriously doubt you will be allowed to discuss or hold forth on any themes or ideas which don't also accord with the party line either... Free speech or free thinking wouldn't be one of the cornerstones of their regime...

Sorry i don't believe everything is shades of grey and we're all dodgy its just to different degrees etc, some things are pretty definite black and white to me, but good luck going to NK and trying to get international tv allowed and planting the seed to get the people to rise up...

 

[straitman]

Sorry don't want to moralise, but please don't insult my intelligence (or the suffering the people of NK have endured) by glibly equating Australia or most other countries 'disagreeable policies' with a regime that systematically is prepared to starve and brain wash and abuse its people...

I don't see that the OP was doing that. It does not look like he was answering your post specifically and in any case he was simply stating a halfway view that is just as valid.

 

[Fantic125]

No way.
I also disagree with the politics and the general conditions imposed by the dictatorial government (based on what I have seen and read and discussed with my Sth Korean colleagues during my visits there over the past few years).

There are plenty of other countries I would rather support by visiting and spending my money there than Nth Korea.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

yes. I would go. it's on my list.

I wouldnt be too worried about travel insurance... unless it was for a pre existing condition... from what I understand you are so wrapped up in cotton wool there that the chance of any accident is minimal. and I am sure they would give you the best treatment they had (to keep up appearances).

and no chance you would ever miss your return flight or an internal connection

 

[jsoprano]

and no chance you would ever miss your return flight or an internal connection

Neither would would you need to worry about points, SCs or qualifying nights. Or mobile phone reception, or which credit card to use, or ...

I watched the documentary in the link of reply #18 last night (thanks toowongman), and the travel programme these guys did is 100% identical to the one I consider. There are certainly no surprises to be expected.

 

[AaronBradford]

I would grab at the chance to travel to North Korea! Unfortunately I don't think my bank account would like me very much if I did, not to mention the lack of annual leave.

 

[haydensydney]

I would love to go on a Mass Games tour - they look absolutely amazing! I think it's one of the worlds most amazing public performances.

 

[ermen]

i am going in 2 weeks. maybe will do a trip report.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

i am going in 2 weeks. maybe will do a trip report.

wow!!

so cool! which itinerary are you going on and how much to pay? who did you book through? (I'm thinking of going next year)

 

[ermen]

Going with these guys... Travel to North Korea North Korea Tours from dandong. 5000 RMB
They are a Chinese tour group but I requested an English speaking Korean guide. See how it goes.

Need to find your way to DDG though! So i'm going to make my way to PEK then taking an internal flight to DDG for ~A$150

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Going with these guys... Travel to North Korea North Korea Tours from dandong. 5000 RMB
They are a Chinese tour group but I requested an English speaking Korean guide. See how it goes.

Need to find your way to DDG though! So i'm going to make my way to PEK then taking an internal flight to DDG for ~A$150

thanks for the info. i was looking at American tourist tours before and they were in the region of Eruo1600. This seems very well prices - less than ADU100 for the 3/4 days. Might be worthwhile. I'd want to combine with the massed games.

 

[ermen]

i saw on Lupine Travel | Unique Destinations at Budget Prices! North Korea Tour that this year is the final year of the mass games - not sure how much truth is in that - but you may want to check that out

 

[MEL_Traveller]

i saw on Lupine Travel | Unique Destinations at Budget Prices! North Korea Tour that this year is the final year of the mass games - not sure how much truth is in that - but you may want to check that out

oh!!

looks like 11 september tour might be the last then!! (now to work out if I can get time off work!!)