So I'm (finally) going to North Korea...! ^__^

[Philosophii]

http://cephlopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Kim-Jong-Un-Throne.png

Potential spoilers for those who haven't read A Storm of Swords/watched all of Season 3

[Pilotto]

So let me get this straight. You've seen the insane state propaganda that comes out of North Korea. You've seen the impoverished masses living in squalor. You've seen the concentration camps. You've seen the hypocritical opulence that the Korean dictator lives in. You've seen everything that we all have seen, and probably even more (you claim to have even studied Kimillsungism, whatever the hell that is), and you think to yourself, "That sounds like a nice place. That's the kind of country I would want to live in."
Seriously, where are you from? Where did you grow up that was so horrible that North Korea sounds like a good alternative? Only on nationstates.

On a less serious note take a look at this and this.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Good luck to you, however I hope you realize that the N . Korea you see will only be.the one that they want you to see. Everything negative they do is hidden from the view of carefully chaperoned foreigners such as you will be.

Some foreigners manage to see more than the Koreans intend for them to see, but yeah, they don't let you explore freely.

@OP: You'd be better off just staying in Beijing. There is some really awesome stuff in Beijing.

[Grenartia]

They've mentioned it in the past.

I wonder if they're going to turn out like Oswald...

I wouldn't recommend that. Granted, I probably wouldn't mind moving to Cuba (however, I don't consider the two comparable, due to the differences in ideology), but would prefer to have socialism expand past it than to simply hold it up as a beacon.

I must say, if I had to live in a former Soviet-supported state, I'd definitely choose Cuba. Least oppressive.

Well, I'm not exactly a big fan of North Korea (Grandpa fought them in the '50s), but good luck. I've seen one or two videos of the place from a tourist, ad it looks interesting, to say the least.

Isn't there that one big hotel, looked really awesome, but it was never finished? I wouldn't mind seeing that, actually.

Of all the reasons to not like NK, you chose "because my granddaddy fought in the Korean war", and not things like their human rights record, or their nuclear program, or anything else. I mean, my granddad fought them, too, but that's certainly not on the list for why I don't like DPRK.

If we don't hear from you, we're going to assume you're camping out at one of Best Korea's gulag vistas or fertilizing a farmer's field with your organs.

North Korea: For when you want all the oppression of the Khmer Rouge, but don't want to die in the killing fields.

[United Marxist Nations]

Good luck to you, however I hope you realize that the N . Korea you see will only be.the one that they want you to see. Everything negative they do is hidden from the view of carefully chaperoned foreigners such as you will be.

1) Some foreigners manage to see more than the Koreans intend for them to see, but yeah, they don't let you explore freely.

@OP: You'd be better off just staying in Beijing. There is some really awesome stuff in Beijing.

With regard to that, the person who used to be in my region who went was (on the last day of her stay there) vehemently asked to go to another, more modern hotel; she declined. When she returned to the hotel, she tried to take a shower, to find that the hot water was no longer on; when she inquired with the front desk, she was told that the hot water is turned off there for that part of the week (no further explanation was given, as far as I know, but I assume it is due to electricity/heating shortages). I assume the reason they asked her to go to another hotel was so that she wouldn't find out about the lack of hot water.

[Grenartia]

1. If they're unwilling to change, they shouldn't be trying to rely on tourism.

2. And what about the American vet who fought in Korea, and was detained? Considering that pretty much the entire world less the Soviet Union and its puppet states contributed to the UN invasion of NK, I doubt many people (especially those old enough to have been veterans during the Korean War) would want to go there, with the risk of being brought up on bullshit charges.

1. I'm just going to leave this here: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/02/trave ... -protocol/

North Korea is safe.

2. He was incredibly stupid. If you know anything about North Korea, it's that they intensely demonise the Americans, especially during the Korean War. Seriously, this reaction was to be expected, and the man in question should have either stayed at home, or shut his trap.

Yeahno, I'm not going to pay attention to anything else you say after you victim blamed him.

[Vekalse]

Good luck, have fun. Be careful.

[Ralkovia]

I'm so glad your visiting the second happiest country on Earth.

[Herrebrugh]

1. I'm just going to leave this here: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/02/trave ... -protocol/

North Korea is safe.

2. He was incredibly stupid. If you know anything about North Korea, it's that they intensely demonise the Americans, especially during the Korean War. Seriously, this reaction was to be expected, and the man in question should have either stayed at home, or shut his trap.

Yeahno, I'm not going to pay attention to anything else you say after you victim blamed him.

Alright. Cheerio.

[God Kefka]

I would never visit North Korea. The place is too dangerous, corrupt and backward...

[Frisivisia]

Have a good time, I guess.

[Seangoli]

I would never visit North Korea. The place is too dangerous, corrupt and backward...

I wouldn't say dangerous for tourists, particularly Western tourists. From what I understand, they are *very* interested in making NK look as amazing as possible to outsiders, and do everything they can to ensure that this happens. If you step out of line, you just get shipped out post-haste.

It's a PR thing, really. They know full well what would happen if they took a tourist captive or harmed them in any way. Best just to get rid of them if they cause problem.

Not saying anything good about the country, but this is what my undertanding of the situation for tourists is.

[God Kefka]

I would never visit North Korea. The place is too dangerous, corrupt and backward...

I wouldn't say dangerous for tourists, particularly Western tourists. From what I understand, they are *very* interested in making NK look as amazing as possible to outsiders, and do everything they can to ensure that this happens. If you step out of line, you just get shipped out post-haste.

It's a PR thing, really. They know full well what would happen if they took a tourist captive or harmed them in any way. Best just to get rid of them if they cause problem.

Not saying anything good about the country, but this is what my undertanding of the situation for tourists is.

Interesting...

[Costa Fierro]

Could you try a hamburger while you're there. People say it tastes like something's off, but North Korea says it is from the finest beef.

It's called "human".

[Estado Paulista]

Whatever floats your boat, dude.

[Meowfoundland]

I'd love to go to North Korea. Not because I agree with the ideology, but because it's so very different from the world around it. It's my last chance to see a proper Soviet Bloc-ish nation.

[Conscentia]

Could you try a hamburger while you're there. People say it tastes like something's off, but North Korea says it is from the finest beef.

It's called "human".

I think the reference is actually to the use of dog meat in Korean cuisine.

[The Totally Not an Evil Communist Regime]

The glorious Democratic People's Republic of Korea is best and most advanced country. No other country can beat North Korea. North Korea leads all others in fields of magnificence, deep joy, and successfulness. Glorious nation of North Korea is not lead by heavily armed Stalinist meth addicts. This is pitiful lie by evil oppressed western capitalist dogs. North Korea is the most successful nation in history. It's greatest achievement is the birth of benevolent leader Kim Jong-Un, from which all greatness has sprung. Glorious Kim has won 47 Nobel prizes, 6 Oscars, and holds world record for pizza eating competition.

[Othelos]

The glorious Democratic People's Republic of Korea is best and most advanced country. No other country can beat North Korea. North Korea leads all others in fields of magnificence, deep joy, and successfulness. Glorious nation of North Korea is not lead by heavily armed Stalinist meth addicts. This is pitiful lie by evil oppressed western capitalist dogs. North Korea is the most successful nation in history. It's greatest achievement is the birth of benevolent leader Kim Jong-Un, from which all greatness has sprung. Glorious Kim has won 47 Nobel prizes, 6 Oscars, and holds world record for pizza eating competition.

Satire is a satire.

[The Totally Not an Evil Communist Regime]

Satire is a satire.

This is no satire. North Korea is most free nation! Mockery of glorious Korea will not be accepted!

[Neo Arcad]

There's only one way I'd like to see North Korea, and that's down the barrel of an L/44 120mm Rheinmetall smoothbore cannon.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

I don't get what exactly would be fun about seeing North Korea, but if that's what you wanna do for a vacation...

Personally, I'd rather go to South Korea; more development, nightclubs, and more general enjoyability.

[Romic]

I don't get what exactly would be fun about seeing North Korea, but if that's what you wanna do for a vacation...

Personally, I'd rather go to South Korea; more development, nightclubs, and more general enjoyability.

Inexpensive for an out of country vacation.

[Herador]

I don't get what exactly would be fun about seeing North Korea, but if that's what you wanna do for a vacation...

Personally, I'd rather go to South Korea; more development, nightclubs, and more general enjoyability.

Apparently weed is super cheap, so I mean, that's one reason.

[Tyriece]

That's a good thing? I kinda thought people are desperately trying to escape that place, why would you want to go there??