I was 12 years old when the Cold War ended and the Berlin Wall came down. Growing up in a divided country myself I was always interested in the situation on the Korean peninsula – and in spring of 2013 I finally had the opportunity to visit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, better known as North Korea. From April 27th to May 4th I spent 8 days / 7 nights in the world’s most secluded country, an extraordinary experience that will stay forever in my heart.

Here’s a list of articles I wrote after my return:

North Korea – A Travel Report

North Korea – Getting Started / Beijing

North Korea – Air Koryo (From Beijing to Pyongyang)

North Korea – Pyongyang, Arch of Triumph

North Korea – Pyongyang, Yanggakdo Hotel

North Korea – Pyongyang, Kumsusan Memorial Palace of the Sun (Mausoleum)

North Korea – Pyongyang, Revolutionary Martyrs‘ Cemetery

North Korea – Pyongyang, Juche Tower

North Korea – Pyongyang, Workers Party Foundation Monument

North Korea – Pyongyang, Golden Lane Bowling Alley

North Korea – Pyongyang, Pyongyang Feature Film Studios

North Korea – Pyongyang, Mansudae Art Studio

North Korea – Pyongyang, Pyongyang Metro

North Korea – Pyongyang, Mangyongdae Children’s Palace

North Korea – Pyongyang, Taesongsan Combined Fruit Farm

North Korea – Pyongyang, Grand People’s Study House

North Korea – Pyongyang, June 9th Middle School

North Korea – Food (For Tourists)

North Korea – Pyongyang Fun Run

North Korea – Pyongyang, Taesongsan Park & Fun Fair

North Korea – Nampo, Dragon River Hot Spa Hotel

North Korea – West Sea Barrage

North Korea – Pyongyang, Chongsan-ri Cooperative Farm

North Korea – The Way To Kaesong

North Korea – Kaesong, Minsok Folk Hotel

North Korea – Korean Dog Meat Soup

North Korea – Kaesong Koryo Museum

North Korea – Panmunjom / JSA

North Korea – Concrete Wall

North Korea – Pyongyang, Kaeson Fun Fair

North Korea – Pyongyang, Other Locations

North Korea – Train To China (Pyongyang – Sinuiju – Dandong – Beijing)

North Korea – Dandong Option

North Korea – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

From October 14th to October 21st I returned for another 8 days / 7 nights to North Korea – this time the rather remote areas North Hamgyong and Rason, which are visited by only a couple of hundred western tourists per year:

Back To North Korea – Or: Hunger Games, The Musical

North Korea Revisited: Northeastern Adventure (Prologue)

North Korea Revisited: Day 1 – Yanji, Tumen, Onsong, Hoeryong

North Korea Revisited: Day 2 – Hoeryong, Chongjin

North Korea Revisited: Day 3 – Chonjin, Pochon

North Korea Revisited: Day 4 – Pochon, Mt. Chilbo, Kyongsong

North Korea Revisited: Day 5 – Kyongsong, Chongjin, Rason

North Korea Revisited: Day 6 – Rason

North Korea Revisited: Day 7 – Rason

North Korea Revisited: Day 8 – Rason, 3 Border Viewing Point, Wonjong, Yanji

North Korea Revisited: Epilog



*Click here to go to a GoogleMap* showing (almost) all of the above locations – and more!

If you are not that familiar with Korea, here is a mini glossary with important terms:

Air Koryo: state-owned North Korean airline, partially blacklisted in Europe

Dandong: Chinese city on the border to North Korea, *last stop of my trip*

DPRK: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, official name of North Korea

DMZ: Demilitarized Zone, in this case between North Korea and South Korea

Joint Security Area (JSA): the tourist section of the DMZ…

Kaesong: North Korean city close to the DMZ, known for its industrial park

Kim Il-sung: 1912-1994, North Korean Prime Minister, President, Supreme Leader and posthumous Eternal President

Kim Jong-il: 1941-2011, North Korean General Secretary, Supreme Leader and posthumous Eternal General Secretary, first son of Kim Il-sung

Kim Jong-un: born 1983 or 1984, North Korean First Secretary and Supreme Leader, third son of Kim Jong-il

KITC: Korea International Travel Company, a state-run travel agency organizing the tours within North Korea

Koryo: also Goryeo, Korean Kingdom from 918 to 1392 and origin of the modern term “Korea”

Koryo Tours: the travel agency I travelled with to the DPRK

Nampo: North Korean city at the mouth of Taedong River, important port and industry

North Korea: common name of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Panmunjom: metonym for the Joint Security Area on the city’s premises

Pyongyang: capital of North Korea

Seoul: capital of South Korea

South Korea: common name of the Republic of Korea

Sweetmeat Soup: Korean delicacy, a soup with dog meat (not bulls testicles…)

Taedong River: 439km long river that flows through Pyongyang and reaches the Yellow Sea in Nampo, the tourist hotel Yanggakdo in Pyongyang is on an island in the Taedong River

Yanggakdo Hotel: largest working hotel and second tallest building in North Korea, named after its location Yanggak Island

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