North Korea Tour 2010 Part 1 of 8 (High Definition 720P)

[peronk1]

@TheAlohaRobert That's what happens when 100% of the US media's attention is geared toward military developments in that country. All other component of life for North Koreans are ignored for the most part. When is the last time US media talked about the repatriation of NK refugees hiding in China? But we all know when there is a missle test.

[MrGuy1332]

So what did you think of the place? Looks bad to me. Not as bad as I expected though.

[peronk1]

@MrGuy1332 The prosperous regions are not as bad as I thought they would be. The poor regions, which they don't allow visitors into, are prob. as bad or worse than we might dare imagine.

[ewsittiporn]

Thank you for post and sharing.Can not predict what will happen with North Korea. But I feel they start to open their country like Burma.

[peronk1]

@ewsittiporn I think most people have been feeling that since the Berlin wall came down. GWBush slowed down any progress, and who knows what little Kim, and the military machine that runs the country, will chose to do. What I do know is that the current generation of South Koreans are apatheitc about reunification- so a slow opening of the economy may be the most likely path- like China did in the 70's

[myfatproductions]

so what is ur personal opinion about North Korea? the US makes propaganda as well, is it really that bad there? i have seen videos of 4x4 cars in north korea... cars from later then 2002 civilians with mobile phones etc etc..

havent been there though

[peronk1]

@myfatproductions Mobile phones are more common place now- but only for domestic calling. I did not have any reception on my CDMA phone inside that country- yet it was not a GSM phone. There is an assortment of imported cars. Cars and mobile phones are only for the individuals in positions of political power or because their career demands it. For the state to take back cell phones would prob. cause too much uproar with the gentry of the country.

[kermitkringle]

These videos are fascinating. I've never seen anything like them. Thank you very much for sharing them. I have so many questions. Foremost, were there any times, aside from at the hotel, when your guides were not in your immediate presence? Were there plenty of public restrooms in the public areas? Did your guides follow you in? Lastly, did you or your guide decide how long you stayed at each place?

[peronk1]

@kermitkringle It would be easy enough to slink away, however this would put the guides in touble if you wanted to ditch them and walk the streets alone. Yet if you're not Asian, you would be spotted quickly and told to get back to whereever you were supposed to be. The guides tended to trust you and were respectful of your freedom of movement: no restroom buddy system in otherwords. The itiniary for a private tour had some flexability- no work camp tours, but a day at the beach was okay.

[shadowzach00]

i have so many questions to ask how much did it cost to get on the train? and did you talk to anyone on the train from north korea what kind of money did you bring with you? how long was you there ? do you need a visa to go there or just a pass port ? sorry for asking to many questions

[peronk1]

@shadowzach00 Check out wikitravelDOTorg/en/North_Kore­a

[dannymaclamp]

Amazing videos - I find it interesting that there have been so many documentary crews that have gone in and filmed and then come back and added their commentary and been very critical etc. etc. I would think the elites of North Korea would see some of this and not want others to repeat that. But maybe they don't care, they need hard currency from visitors, and they know their own people won't ever see these things.

[skating1611]

@dannymaclamp How would they see this?

[shadowzach00]

how did you get there o.o

[peronk1]

@shadowzach00 By train from Dandong China. It's an easy place to visit actually: open to anybody but South Koreans

[zeproo]

Surreal, fantastic, unbelievable. These are the words that comes up in my mind watching your video's. This place is an "open museum with living people" where time stood still. You would think yourself back 50 years in time in a communist country. I'm afraid China would love to get their hands on that. Poor people, they don't deserve this.You can see the scare on their faces. At least we should provide help with basic things like free food asap.

[Medieval1028]

Amazing perspective that I have never seen. Thanks....