North Korea, I’m on my way!
Before we start I want to note, that due to the tight program many photos in North Korea / DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) were taken from the moving bus.
So the quality isn’t perfect in parts, but that’s better than nothing π
During the flights it was forbidden to film the landscape. Well, I did my very best – sometimes.
Have fun with my trip report.
Overview:
Tu 204-100 – P-633
IL-18D – P-835
An-148-100B – P-671
An-24RV – P-532
Tu-134B-3 – P-814
IL-76MD – P-912
IL-62M – P-885
Tu-154B-2 – P-561
Mi-17 – 867
Prolog
Usually you travel to North Korea with a tourist card as a kind of visa, which you return when leaving.
The alternative is, to pick up the visa yourself in the North Korean Embassy in Berlin, where it is put inside your passport.
Of course I choose the second alternative. A phone call, the gate opened and I was welcomed inside the building. After a short talk, I handed over my visa papers and my passport. Hardly arrived in the waiting room, music was switched on and Korean songs attuned me for my journey.
After a while I was able to get my passport together with my visa.
Everything was very easy and friendly π
Friday
On the eve of departure to Pyongyang our travel group met in the North Korean restaurant Haedanghwa in Beijing for dinner.
There was also a music, singing and dancing show, proving the skills of the young North Korean women.
Saturday
Next morning at Beijing PEK airport…
Surprisingly right next to an airplane of Korean Air (South Korea) it is: our Air Koryo Tupolev Tu 204-100 P-633.
Due to a missed slot we had to wait at the gate for an hour, another hour we spent on the crowded taxiway on the way to the runway.
The flight attendants seemed to enjoy their work and surprisingly the flight was well booked.
Didn’t look good but tasted good. The Air Koryo service in general was much better than you currently get at Lufthansa for example.
Lined up for our welcome (but also otherwise) the excellent maintained aircraft of Air Koryo stand next to the runway in Pyongyang FNJ.
Arrived in FNJ we visited the cockpit.
The new terminal is under construction. Completion date: 2014! Maybe the (very delayed new Berlin airport) BER should buy consulting and planning services from North Korea? π
The runway and taxiway are restored. As we could see during our stay, rapid and clearly visible progress had been made.
We still used the old, temporary terminal which should welcome us as regular guests during the next days.
Also the security staff seemed to know us „regulars“ as we visited the airport nearly every day during our stay.
Immigration was smooth. Mobile phone and passport were photographed and the camera examined superficially on GPS capability.
Our travel group of about 30 participants was split into two groups and put on two buses, so that everyone could occupy a window seat.
Our passports were collected in the bus and retained for the duration of our stay.
Due to the delay it was already dark. After a short sightseeing round we went to Koryo Hotel where we stayed during our tour.
At Mansu Hill Grand Monument we were allowed to lay down some flowers and bow down obediently. It shouldn’t be the last time during our stay.
Surprisingly, photography in general was explicitly permitted already on our ride from the airport to our hotel. Except military, individuals as well as in situations where it was explicitly communicated to us.
Workers Party Foundation Monument
1997 (three years after Kim Il Sung’s death) the Juche calendar was officially introduced in North Korea. It differs to the Gregorian calendar by the year count that starts with the year of birth of Kim Il Sung. So since then, the year 1912 applies as „Juche 1“.
The bed was extremely hard, but I slept very well in it. The pillows sounded and felt like plastic but were also comfortable.
The bed sheet had an irritating „design“ hole.
In the lamp I found a pair of well-dried socks instead of spy devices.
There was still a little view. Daily in the morning at 6 there were speakers with music and motivating announcements on the streets, somtimes even in the middle of the night.
Our floor in the hotel obviously was intended for Western tourists. There was an international direct dial telephone as well as Chinese and Russian TV channels. One radio station played motivating local music from 6 a.m.
Note the two German telephone area codes (formerly „West“ and „East“ Germany) and the formerly two capitals Bonn and Berlin.
In the room there was always hot water and electricity available, but I was surprised of the American electrical sockets. Only in the bathroom there were European sockets, one with 220V and one with 110V.
I personally felt the many mirrors in the hotel disturbing, in the hallways, in the room and in the wardrobe right next to the bed.
At least one elevator always worked, partially you just had to wait a little longer.
Sunday
Breakfast usually consisted (exactly) four slices of toasted white bread, a packet of butter and jam, a small glass of yoghurt-like substance, a cup of tea or coffee and alternating sausage and / or pancake and a fried egg.
The service was celebrated with a lot of staff. For example, when a packet of jam fell out of the hand of the waiter during service, he ashamed and thoroughly wiped it clean before it was presented to the guest.
The visual charm of the hotel speaks for itself.
If a trip participant wanted / had to stay in the hotel for some reason, there was always a guide with him/her.
„Excursions“ without a guide were not allowed – and if it just was in front of the hotel. At night the hotel exit was locked.
There was more traffic on the roads than I expected, including individual traffic and cabs. Public transport, i.e. buses and trams were always very full. Furthermore, there are many cyclists and pedestrians.
As we already noticed on our way from the airport to the hotel, the roads are in a quite poor condition and bumpy. Thanks to the quite modern bus this was bearable.
The licence plates in North Korea can be assigned by color:
– white are official vehicles / authorities vehicles (majority)
– white with a red star are VIP vehicles (some of them in front of our hotel) – note the many different Mercedes models, which you can also see everywhere in the city
– orange (yellow) are private vehicles
– black are military vehicles
– red (burgundy) are vehicles of joint ventures operating in the country
– blue are diplomats vehicles
The main train station in Pyongyang. There are two international connections: one to Vladivostok and one to Beijing.
The station forecourt
A striking feature of the North Koreans was that apparently everyone wore a red badge with Kim Il Sung and / or Kim Jong Il on it.
Today we took the bus to Panmunjom in the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone). Our guides Su Ryon („Lotus“) and Un Sok were in good mood and offered sweets.
The other group was supervised by Jong Chol („little bear“) and Jong Hua.
Gradually, single trip participants were unobtrusively involved into smalltalk by the guides, but also in the following days not everyone.
However, the residents on the streets in Pyongyang itself were partly skeptical, but far from all. The further we got out of the city, the more curious the citizens were. Children and young people rejoiced, laughed and waved, sometimes even adults.
Panels and monuments with Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il were ubiquitous.
The landscape is dominated by trees, rice and corn fields. Overall, the nature is very green and multifaceted.
We paused at the service area „Frankenwald“ (or similar).
The streets got more empty, the closer we got to the DMZ.
There were checkpoints with roadblocks. Apparently, we had been observed from the outside. Two participants photographed the checkpoints from the bus, because of that our bus was stopped at the next checkpoint and those two photographers were selected, they had to hand out their camera for checking. However, they got the cameras back unchanged with all the photos.
Regularly there were tank traps on the roadside, which can be blown up when needed, falling on the street and thus blocking for enemy traffic.
Arrived in Panmunjom.
I was sitting right on the boundary / demarcation line between North and South Korea (38th degree of latitude – middle of the table, line of microphones). Exceptionally a visa-free entry and exit is possible in the center blue barrack.
We had a lot of fun – and the Yanks new videos for evaluation π
At this table the cease-fire was negotiated.
On a positive note, I felt that always also historical backgrounds were taught. These were indeed interpreted in the interest of North Korea, but you could still win a number of new insights.
We had lunch in Kaesong, after that a walking tour and a museum visit.
Ginseng roots of different ages
What did a slave cost again?
Always included: Photographer and Cameraman from KITC (Korea International Travel Company), through which all tourist activities in the country are organized.
Tomb of King Kongmin
What does a bus driver do when he gets hungry on the way? Exactly: eating pinecone.
Dinner. At almost every meal there was the Korean national dish, Kimchi, spicy pickled cabbage (here at the right edge).
The dinner was accompanied by a short blackout, but the staff was well prepared and ready with lamps on the spot.
At night in Pyongyang there are also roadblocks and checkpoints.
Monday
The next day we flew to Samjiyon with the Ilyushin IL–18, registration P–835. We were given boarding passes, which were stamped individually. One meter further it was validated and handed out the remaining part. Of course, the boarding pass was checked again at boarding.
For those who wanted some information about world affairs, there was a local newspaper. Just be careful that you do not accidentally kink or wrinkle a photo of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il or Kim Jong Un – I can currently do without a stay in prison camp π
Always careful watching what those nutty Germans are doing!
Special requests were fulfilled with pleasure.
After landing and an extensive photo session we had to get on the bus to drive as much as 50 meters to the restroom π
From there we went to Mount Paektu by bus, an extinct volcano (height about 2,700 meters) with crater lake.
The way up we were able to complete with a train.
Marking our area…
On the way back the punctual Germans were too late, so we had to start our return journey too late also.
It came as it hadΒ toΒ come: halfway the electricity was switched off, which is only available in a certain window of time (what we did not know before though).
So we got out halfway and went to the base station by foot next to the tracks, on concrete slabs and ominous creaking wooden bridges.
Once at the bottom we went to lunch by bus.
Sushi with Krakauer sausage. Whether that was the punishment because we had not eaten the sausage at breakfast?
On the way back to the airport, the bus could barely dodge a truck on the narrow road twice, we also hat do stop because of a gearbox problem and a smoking bus. However, the driver knew his vehicle very well, after a few minutes it was repaired so far that we could continue our journey.
Back at the airport we were allowed to enter the building for a security check.
Of course, before that a boarding pass had to be distributed, stamped and validated.
First, we went through a metal detector which was switched off before a manual check was performed.
The first, muted hand metal detector was used for the body check. Although he shone, but did not make a sound. So everything was ok. Hand luggage was controlled with a second, switched off hand metal detector thoroughly from all sides (but only from the outside). In the absence of sound of course everything was right.
Thus, we were all „clean“ and were allowed to board.
We also went back with the P–835.
Dinner
At dinner we could listen to the music of a military band.
We had a tight program every day. After breakfast we left the hotel early and returned late after dinner. So there was no time for other things except for sleep.
Postcards could be submitted at the hotel in the Communication Center. What happened there everyone can think for themselves.
Pyongyang seemed to be very clean. All citizens worked diligently, were busy cleaning or doing other work.
Outside of Pyongyang, there was hardly any traffic up to bicycles and pedestrians.
Tuesday
The following day a flight with the Antonov An-148 P–671 was on the program.
Who has more baggage carousels? Berlin TXL or Pyongyang FNJ? Still not sure… π
On this day there was a power failure in the terminal. However, all operations could also be handled easily without electricity.
After the flight, someone had taken a headrest cover. This was noticed and we had to wait until it was brought back.
The Antonov An-24 P–532 afterwards.
There is also female female crew staff.
Who do we have here? The government aircraft of Kim Jong Un.
– photos have been removed on North Korean „request“ –
This mistake was not committed a second time. On the next day the machines were no longer visible to us.
But there were motivating posters.
Mayday Stadium
After lunch the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum was visited.
Little bear today with neck speaker …
Monument of Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War
Hotel Ryugyong
Inside no photos were allowed.
North Korean weapons
In the meantime, one or two additional visitors arrived.
Captured weapons of the USA / USS Pueblo
Now we are going for a ride with trolleybus and tram.
Each red star represents 50,000 accident-free kilometers.
Detached Young Pioneers are seen.
Triumphal Arch
TV Tower
The Schoolchildren’s Palace Mangyongdae is being renovated. Even in the darkness welding work could be seen.
Ice Rink
Wednesday
The next day, the German Ambassador and a staff member accompanied us to Hamhung.
In conversations we learned that normally not more than 10 to 15 Germans permanently are present in North Korea, rarely up to 20. Our tour group had tripled the number of Germans in the country in one fell swoop.
We flew with a Tupolev Tu-134, the P-814 to Sondok.
Visitors π
Continuation by bus.
The kiddies were happy about the foreigners visit.
Lunch was a bit more upscale than usual on this day, maybe due to our guest?
Because of the weather, the usual photo session was moved to Pyongyang. A good decision.
New secret technology – or toys.
At the airport, the Ambassador left.
Grand People’s Study House
Foreign-language literature is offered.
A reading room
Foreign language courses
Multimedia education room
From the terrace you have stunning views over the city.
Monument of the Juche idea, „Juche Tower„
Central State Building at Kim Il Sung Square
Of course there is also another opportunity to learn about relevant world affairs.
Again you have to expect the appearance of single pioneers.
Of course there were current dictionaries.
A prototype
The place was provided with level indication marks for parades.
Now we’ll have a Metro ride.
The Metro stations in Pyongyang are usually 80-100 meters below the surface. There are escalators.
Single ticket – the other tickets are smart cards with RFID chip.
After the ride we wanted to leave the station. Conveniently, there was a blackout exactly at that moment as we entered the escalator. While the North Koreans stopped and watched us Germans amused, as we panting and snorting climbed the felt kilometer long escalator up to the surface, the electricity was switched on just before reaching the final stages .
Back on the surface at the Triumphal Arch.
Dinner was on a restaurant ship.
A little sightseeing at night. Wow!
Again those batty Germans π
In the evening we took a trip to the central station. We were persecuted from the hotel to the station by laughing children.
Arrived at the station, I tried to give them some candy, but they did not dare to accept this.
Lotus explained that there were bad experiences with tourists, they had lured the children with candy and then made negative photos and video recordings of the situation.
I gave her the candy and asked her to give it to the children. They came to her at the second try, took the candy and thanked politely in English with a „Thank you“ before they went away laughing.
Meanwhile, the electricity at the station of course failed, so this was relatively gloomy ahead of us.
The supply of food and water in North Korea is quite cheap. For a 0.5-liter bottle of water you have to pay about 20 Euro-Cents. Payment is only possible in foreign currency (preferably Euros). Change is issued in Euros, U.S. Dollars or Renminbi Yuan.
Possession of local currency (North Korean Won) is not permitted for tourists.
The official exchange rate Euro to local currency is about 1:130, on the black market it is about 1:10,000.
Thursday
The following day we visited the Memorial Palace Kumsusan or Sun Palace in the morning, former official residence of Kim Il Sung. In the mausoleum there are the bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il as well as important items, automobiles and train carriages (with office in its original condition, including MacBook Pro).
There are also many photos of meetings with key figures and great deeds, awards, medals and even a warship.
Inside no photos were allowed.
The access control was enormous. In addition to an attachment with thick, steel-reinforced walls, there were seemingly radiation detectors and photos of there visitors were taken. Any metal objects were absolutely forbidden.
There were long escalators of about 200 meters, where you could prepare for the event at very slow speed and devotional music.
The military guards here were particularly suspicious and did not left us out of their views at any time.
In front of the bodies (in separate rooms) we were allowed to bow on each side.
On the site there are great greens and water facilities, an idyllic place.
On our obligatory group photo we used the word „Kimchiiiiiii“ instead of „cheese“ – what made all North Koreans around us laugh.
The hotel rooms are cleaned by three cleaners simultaneously, what I noticed in our brief return in order to change clothes.
Next stop was the Metro Museum.
Again, no photos were allowed inside except for a few stations.
At various stations the contributions Kim Il Sung has made during the construction of the Metro are shown, which clues, instructions, and advice he has contributed to make the construction a success.
At the airport we first had lunch.
On the way to the rest room in the terminal I even met some North Korean athletes.
Today sightseeing flights are on the program.
There were only arrivals on the monitors, departures didn’t seem to happen on this day. Our flights were apparently not listed.
Smile – or better: Kimchiiiii!
The Ilyushin IL-76 P-912.
Of course, I had one of the few window seats. I had to film kneeling on the seats, the seat belt strapped around my waist for safety formalities.
The flight was great! The IL–76 is definitely one of my favorite aircraft now.
The tour guides got a call from the hotel because in the room of one participant there was missing a towel. He had taken it to the sauna and left there the night before.
(Back at the hotel it took 15 minutes of discussion with five scantily-English speaking employees before triumphantly getting back the towel and returning it to the hotel room.)
Continuing with the Ilyushin IL–62 P–885
Finally the Tupolev Tu-154 P-561.
Dinner
Friday
Today we went to the Friendship Exhibition (Museum of International Friendship) in the Myohyang mountains. There are exhibited state gifts to Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un. There are also wax figures of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il and an Ilyushin IL–14.
The way there I went by bus, the way back I flew with a Mil Mi-17, registration 867 from Hyangsan Heliport to Pyongyang. A total of two Mi-17 with registrations 847 and 867 were reserved for us on the return trip.
Break on the highway.
Again, photos were not allowed inside.
The nature is breathtaking.
Lunch was 100 meters from the museum in a pavilion – of course we had to take the bus for this distance.
Seems there was too much Krakauer sausage left again at the breakfast.
Next we visited a Buddhist temple.
Some photos later I’m in one of the two Mi-17, the 867 with VIP seating.
Unfortunately some trip participants were not able to be quiet, despite repeated requests. They had to talk continually and delighted my video with unqualified interjections.
Maybe in future these people should make holiday in Majorca again, rather than on a group tour to North Korea.
As we arrived in Pyongyang too late, we took the bus at full speed through the city to the Juche Tower – over 100 km / h at allowed 15. Just in time before closing we arrived and were able to enjoy a great view over Pyongyang again.
The last evening had come. There was a farewell dinner.
Fortunately, we even were able to buy local money.
Saturday
On departure morning the images we ordered were distributed chaotic, as these were not sorted by participants but by image number.
In addition, a cup from the restaurant was apparently stolen, because the waiter asked each one individually afterwards.
Again at full throttle we went to the airport. The bus driver seemed to like the fast driving.
We were warmly adopted by the tour guides. They had already filled out the departure forms for us.
The departure went smoothly and without checking cameras, mobile phones or laptops.
Upon departure, it was very foggy, as if North Korea again wanted to hide the impressions we could win in the last days …
In the airplane to Beijing there were many party officials. The aircraft was well booked again.
In Beijing, we were again next to an aircraft of Korean Air.
At immigration a Chinese seemed to like my „See you in Pyongyang“ t-shirt as he really wanted to take a picture of me. Why not.
My conclusion:
The week in North Korea was packed with formative impressions and great experiences.
Even though this was my first group trip ever and this was associated with certain limitations compared to an individual holiday, based on the overall good composition of the group that brought us many unexpected privileges and additional program points we had fun and I enjoyed the tour.
Due to the extremely tight schedule, unfortunately, we had no possibility to process the new impressions during our stay. You have to do that when you are back again, for example by writing a travel report.
The landscape in North Korea is diverse, green and partly simply breathtaking.
At the simplest things you notice that North Korea is definitely not a country that lives in abundance. Despite all the people are trying to get the best within their means.
Particularly influential were the personal contacts with citizens. Although there were some skeptical or disinterested people, you could feel the true openness and joy because of us as foreign visitors, even if the language barrier was often unable to overcome.
The laughing and waving children or adolescents at the roadside when we passed by bus or the old woman who waved us on metro exit full of joy, laughing were really great moments.
Especially the younger ones learn foreign languages such as English in school, so at least with them easier communication is possible, and is sometimes even wanted on their own initiative by growing interest and curiosity.
With all the positive we must not forget that travelers should be able in any case to accept the political realities in the DPRK and should not attempt to counteract this.
I was able to do that very well, finally I was not in the country to make policy, but to get to know the country, airplanes and people.
Certainly not every single Euro we brought to the country as tourists is given directly to the citizens or used to improve their living, yet you can clearly see – especially if you read trip reports from past years – that the country is changing, citizens are more open-minded towards us and then just some of our money in fact is used to improve the situation in the country.
I’m going back with really positive impressions and would like to exclude a subsequent visit to North Korea in no way, but then rather in the framework of an independent holiday than in a large tour group.
And finally the KITC tour video:
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