Having recently threatened to turn the US to “ashes and darkness”, North Korea has once again put the world on edge with another missile test over Japan. Meanwhile a new round of sanctions threatens to further starve, literally and economically, a country whose people are reportedly enduring the worst famine in two decades.

It is in this context that a new agricultural trip has been launched in North Korea, which promises to give Western tourists the opportunity to get “down and dirty” with farmers on the outskirts of Pyongyang.

Put together by the Chinese-based Young Pioneer Tours (YPT) – and with the support of the North Korean regime – the six-day voluntourism programme costs €1,195 (£1,053) and requires participants to assist farmers transplant rice by hand, among other “odd jobs”.

Old men play cards on the outskirts of Pyongyang Credit: © Tariq Zaidi. All Rights Reserved/Tariq Zaidi

“We’ve created this program specifically to give you an exclusive insight and experience as we not only work hard, but also play hard, eating and drinking with the local farmers and their families and friends after the day is done,” the tour company said on its website.

“It’s not exactly backbreaking labour, so anyone can join in!”

YPT claims proceeds from the not-for-profit trip will be used to purchase goods and gasoline tickets for the farmers, helping them run tractors and generators in a country where fuel is scarce.

The Foreign Office (FCO), however, advises against all but essential travel to North Korea, while the US has officially banned its citizens from visiting.

YPT is the travel company that sent US student, Otto Warmbier, to North Korea in 2016. Warmbier was arrested in January of that year and sentenced to 15 years’ hard labour for allegedly attempting to steal a propaganda poster from his hotel while drunk.

After disappearing for more than a year, Warbier resurfaced in June, when he was flown to the US in an unresponsive coma. He died on June 19. Coroners have not been able to determine the cause of Warmbier’s death.