The appropriateness of tourism in North Korea has long been debated, but has become increasingly discussed in the past few months. Those who are against it say that tourism legitimizes the government, which over the years has become infamous for its human rights mistreatment. They also suggest that tourists β often unintentionally β serve as propaganda tools, with their presence used to illustrate foreign advocacy for the Kim regime.
Nevertheless, tourism in North Korea continues to increase, despite recent travel bans like the one instituted by the US government, as well as the cruel punishments many visitors have received for their so-called crimes of espionage. If you do happen to find yourself visiting North Korea for one reason or another, ensure that your trip is a safe one by not doing the following things. Really, though. Every second. Your tour will be highly choreographed so that you will only visit authorized sites, shop in approved stores, and speak only to official guides.
You will not have access to anything or anyone that is not part of your tour. In other words, you will not get any insight into how the local people live. You are not permitted to go anywhere without an escort. You must not leave your hotel. You must not use the public transportation system.
You should not even attempt to stray a few feet from the group to get a closer look at something. Disrespecting the North Korean government is considered a major offence and has landed tourists in hot water, such as being sentenced to hard labor.
In fact, travelers in North Korea are expected to praise every stop and landmark. If you want to avoid a more-rigorous-than-usual screening process at the border and trust us, you do! Attempting to bring in any sort of Western literature about North Korea including guidebooks or media such as music or films from South Korea could be a very risky decision. GPS trackers, satellite phones, and camera lenses more than mm are absolutely not permitted, so leave them at home.
