North Korea Travel Forum

Hello,
I'm considering a trip to NK if I can somehow gather the $1,500 + plane ticket money. Just a question first, mostly to those Americans who have travelled there. What happens on the other end, when you return to your American customs, and they see your North Korean visa in your passport?
Thx
Joseph

May I ask how you got (or going to get) a North Korean Visa as an American?

Some bad news regarding the trip: I did contact some travel agencies (out of curiosity, I have much better possibilities normally) to test their knowledge. The result was pretty disappointing. Be prepared to pay extra due travel agents being not that terrific (esp. with the tickets).

Some good news regarding the customs etc: AFAIK pretty much nothing happens. As long as you do not engage in business (besides what you need for travel, of course) it shouldn't be a problem.

I suggest you to read this travel report - pretty much unbiased and you will see, there is certain overhype.

http://www.enlight.ru/camera/dprk/index_e.html

Indeed, DPRK does resemble USSR of 1970-s

A little bit of background. The ties between USSR (as it used to be) and DPRK are probably much under surface than one would expect. Indeed: Kim Ir Sen was an officer of Red Army as they chased the Japanese away. His son who is the ruler today is essentially a Soviet citizen: according his birth certificate his LEGAL name is Yuri Irsenovich Kim. He was born in Russia, than-Soviet Union. This is of course a bit changed in the party folklore today, according it he was born on the peak of the Paektu Mountain and as he was born stars were shining like Sun (or somewhat like it).
Of course Kim Jong Il (as he is known) alias Yuri Irsenovich does not need a translator if he visits his northern neighbor.... All this is probably behind the fact, visitors from former USSR are more "lose".

I do not want to go in the details about my discussion with the travel agent - I can say, it was extremely funny to witness myth being born before my eyes....

Anyway, enjoy reading it.

@olddude: there are actually two (or more) operators in the U.S. providing tours. This year DPRK gvt. opened some slots for American tourists. The guy (see above) wanted to talk me into some but it turned out, I don't need any slot, can go pretty much (almost) at will. But the converstion was funny indeed.

That report was written by a Russian; not an American wasn't it?

I guess things are opening up a little. I hear that the first trains to ever cross the DMZ occurred a couple of weeks ago with 50 South Koreans on one train going north on the west coast and 50 North Koreans coming south on the east coast. I eagerly await the first US tourist comments on this forum.

Of course, that's why he had easier time to go around. At one point they escapes the guide in the morning and begun the stroll around on the streets of Phenian. Of course a little crowd gathered, and after it turned out they are from Russia - that was the end of exitement (read the report).

It does not mean, the same will happen with American, of course. But with some care much of conflict can be IMHO avoided.

The situation is of course tough enough - sadly, many travel agencies do a bad job and extraggate things (to get more exitement).

I am a "US" tourist... khm, khm...well, I wouldn't use US passport of course. A few years age we did not even neeed a visa to go there, now it's pain in the ass.

Was thinking this year, unfortunately my dad got a nasty thing, have to visit him for few month, no NK. :-(

For people who like some unusual(?) things:

This is an international train ticket cover:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/6171/zcticketnw7.gif

This is how a Korean sleeping car looks inside before it was refurbished this January:

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/ne/North_Korea/pix.html

(the pics were taken between 25 and 30 December 2006 in Siberia, not a warm place!)

I don't have it yet, as I won't be going/thinking about going for about a year.. But you get the visa to North Korea by going to the NK consulate in Beijing. Then you can either fly from China or take the train into NK.

I have to repeat the link:

http://www.enlight.ru/camera/dprk/index_e.html

Please read it and if you are serious I dare to say: learn Russian and ask for Russian guide or join a Russian group. These are operated very differently, the Russain price will apply to everyone if the group is overwhelmly Russian (over 50% as I recall) and much more choices (like taking the train from Russia via Hasan/Tumangan, not via Beijing, more freedom to stroll in the cities etc.) But the guide will be Russian-speaking.

I was in North Korea this February and they did not stamp the pasport at all. The visas for our group was in separate document.

Hey Johannes....did you know that your embassy in NK is the go between for Americans who visit? That is if you are an American in NK, your emassy is the designated one to give US citizens protection and arrange things like medical evacuation.

Hi!

You can only go there on a trip organized by an agency working with North Korea. They will take care of all the practial details as visas etc. The one I used was http://www.koryogroup.com/index.html but there are others too. Remember that being controlled 24/7 also means that you will be very save. For people living there it's hell on earth but as a visitor you won't have any problems. You do have to use good judgement though when it comes to making photos and discuss with Koreans. Follow the instructions from the agency and you'll be fine. Good luck!

I'm flying in via Beijing in a little over 3 weeks. Papers took a time to aquire, but were not too difficult. In all honesty it was more difficult for me to get my Chinese Visa than my NK one. But as mentioned above, being an American, you have to go through an agency that has contacts in DPRK.

If I report back that means I survived my trip and will comment on any helpful advice.