Strict vacation in North Korea: what bans await tourists
Traveling to North Korea is a challenging experience for many tourists. Travelers are warned that there are strict dress codes for some attractions, including the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, the final resting place of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, which prohibits visitors from wearing blue jeans, T-shirts, miniskirts, or sandals.
Tourists are not recommended to drink tap water, nor to take toilet paper with them to use in public toilets. One of the tourists who took part in the trip to the DPRK said that he was amazed by the empty streets in Pyongyang, the cult of the leader's personality and the way he was not allowed to leave the hotel, RFA writes.
In particular, the local authorities prohibit foreign tourists from filming construction sites and old buildings, and allow them to shoot only picturesque scenes, including at the ski resort they visited.
It is emphasized that after the pandemic, the North Korean government is desperately trying to restore tourism, and Pyongyang has been trying to establish warmer relations with Moscow in recent months, in particular through various sports and cultural exchanges. A four-day tour is offered for USD 800 and a five-day tour for USD 900.
In addition to a strict dress code for visiting the Kim dynasty mausoleum, instructions informed travelers that their ability to communicate with the outside world would be limited. While they would be allowed to bring cell phones, they would not be able to use them without a roaming agreement.
Even then, users must purchase a $120 SIM card that will allow them to make international calls, but domestic calls will still be prohibited. If they need to send messages during their visit, they can pay $2.20 to the hotel to send emails on their behalf from the hotel account.
The instructions also assured travelers that if their passports had stamps from the United States or South Korea, it would not be a problem.
Tourists were also advised to bring extra clothes, as many North Korean buildings are not heated properly, if at all. Most buildings cannot count on hot water, except for certain times in the morning and evening.
As for censorship, local guides advise not to take pictures in certain situations and not to bring Western literature. It is recalled that since 2015, the rules for importing literature into North Korea have been tightened. Tourists face cases of confiscation of North Korean travel guides during customs inspection at the airport.
The guidebook noted that after the scheduled excursions, tourists have free time, but it must be spent at the hotel.
Meanwhile, South Korea plans to ban eating dog meat. A special document will allow the industry to be phased out within three years, TravelWise writes.
