North Korea is one of the most isolated countries. You cannot find yourself there easily and must meet a series of requirements to go to that country. No journalists employed at printed or electronic media are allowed to enter North Korea. When you land in that country you must fill in a declaration at the airport which forbids you to publish photos of your trip for a certain period of time. Secondly, you cannot visit North Korea if you are a US citizen, because on September 1, 2017, all people with US passports are banned to travel to that country. The nationals of the so-called Eastern Bloc have the advantage to visit North Korea, because these countries had good relations with Pyongyang before the democratic changes.

North Korea began a policy of attracting foreign tourists when Kim Jong-un took over the country’s leadership in December 2011. The county developed a series of tourist packages which offer visitors various experiences. Some Bulgarian citizens also showed interest in such trips. Veselin Drobenov visited North Korea last year. That country is a dream for those who look for trips filled with challenges. Here is what happens to tourists once they find themselves in that Asian country.

“When I landed in North Korea I had the feeling that I went 35 years back in time, because the atmosphere was very similar to the atmosphere in Bulgaria when I was a child. Secondly, I was afraid, because when I passed the border control the tour guides took all my personal documents, sealed them in an envelope and told me that I would receive them on my way out of the country. You become their possession without your own identification documents. In the course of six days only I developed paranoia that I was chased, overheard and the eye of the “Big Brother” was staring at me all the time.”

After the initial shock that they were left without personal papers the Bulgarian tourists learned that they were not subject to Police check if they moved together with their tour guides. This is so, because tour guides stand higher in the administrative hierarchy than local policemen. The tour guides accompany the visitors everywhere, because foreign people must visit only places approved by the authorities.

The Bulgarian tourists visited North Korea’s capital Pyongyang, Kaesong - the only ancient town preserved after the Korean War, a mountain region which abounds in spa centers and the International Friendship Exhibition Hall. The gifts given to North Korea’s leaders by leaders of other countries are on display in that museum.

The population of North Korea is estimated at nearly 22 million people, but their exact number is unknown, says Veselin. He shared with Radio Bulgaria other impressions about the life of the North Koreans:

“Many people are part of the North Korean army. I must note that it consists of the military units, the police and the whole municipal administration. We didn’t see many uniformed people wearing weapons. The army is a chance for many local people, because there is a rule there reading The Army Comes First. In other words, all provisions produced in North Korea or imported from other countries go to the army first and the rest goes to the civilians. That is why many people seemed malnourished when we went to North Korea in the beginning of the winter.”

English version: Kostadin Atanasov