You know how in video games there are often buildings or scenery in the background that aren't interactable? That's what it feels like looking at some buildings.
@@dingdongchingchong8659 mostly from the storied from defectors. Lots of times they are asked in South Korea to speak about it . Theres a TH-cam Channel called Dimple that has many North Korean Defectors on to talk about their life and why they defected
It reminds me of some weird movie set. It looks like a place stuck in 1959, the women dress and men suites and the decor of the buildings. The most enduring part of this was the soccer scene. It is amazing how sport transcends culture and people. Neat.
Very likely that the people who played football and participated in tug of war were some bunch of selected people to show tourists, how much fun there is in North Korea. Similar as with stores full of food "for display".
@@facemaskchannel7176 The fact that all groups of tourists are strictly controlled, where they go and what they see, no unattended arbitrary wandering around allowed whatsoever, tourist routes always the same etc. proves, that there is actually a different life behind the wall that tourists are not supposed to see.
@@facemaskchannel7176 Because of the stories of people that have escaped NK. Common sense. If you have to go into a country that TAKES YOUR PASSPORT until you leave, that's a big red flag. If you can't go anywhere unattended or leave your hotel by yourself at all, that's a big red flag. If all of the videos from people touring NK are in the same places, that's a big red flag. One or two things is shady but all of that is just fucking wrong. Not only that but no sane leader would have that many giant pictures of themselves just decorating the sides of buildings.
Excuse me Sir how can i get to the main square? A: You have to take Kim Ill Sung street and then at Kim Jong Un street you must turn left and continue Kim Family Avenue and then you will see the international Kim Hotel, opposite to that is the Kim is a god who doesn't poop square..
When is the last time you saw someone getting executed for saying bad things about the CCP? When is the last time you see someone not being blocked on social media for support Donald trump?
@@richardmoskalyov8503 Jack Ma the owner of Alibaba has been missing since October after remarks about Chinese regulation stifling innovation. There are concentration camps in China for Muslims. There is also the Social Credit system in China. Meanwhile Trump is banned by a private company (Twitter, Facebook), can you imagine Weibo banning Xi Jinping? I think not.
I cant imagine traveling to a country, where I cant walk the streets or talk to people. It is the main reason for me to travel around the world - experience where and how people live in different countries, experiencing their culture from themselves. The whole trip and the parts of the city you have been showed absolutely looks like a theater setup.
Only just discovered this channel - watched a few vids. Initial feeling is that I’m impressed - creator seems genuinely interested in giving his opinions rather than being obsessed with making sure the camera is all about him like lots of travel Vloggers do. This North Korea episode was ace - thank you
@@bt-rw1cu trust me it’s a lady that escaped and she didn’t know how to live they’re all brainwashed they can look up anything outside of their country they don’t know what it’s like on the outside
@@bt-rw1cu You can go to prison for simply saying the wrong wrong or spelling the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing, you literally have to everything perfect to north korea's standards or otherwise you will go to a camp or even get killed. Pyongyang is meant to look like they all live in normal lives, north korea specifically tries to get the most respectful and loyal citizens in pyongyang so it looks normal and a great life there, but the majority of north korea's population is in poverty and lives a terrible restricted life.
And you think his handlers will let him go any place? Why doesnt he try and steal a poster on the wall in his hotel. This is nothing more then propaganda for north korea and another source of income for a brutal idiot.
I think it's mainly they have nothing to litre because they are short on everything. Also it's sanctioned. No trash from foreign countries could make their way to N.K.
That festival in the park is staged. Since the tours are guided and of course scheduled, the people are there to interact with different tourists visiting everyday.
I'm mexican, and in my country people dresses up as mayans (I'm from Cozumel island), and dance the "traditional dances to the traditional songs of our culture" every day to entertain the tourists. We sell "traditional" souvenirs that are produced in mass and come from places like China. We engage small talks with the tourists to sell them products "with history", among other things. So, I don't see the difference between what you said and any tourist center. Those places are made to look beautiful.
ODIRGO the difference is you admit that people do it for tourism. North Korea says that this is a real festival enjoyed by North Koreans which happened only at that time and that the tourists were just lucky to arrive in North Korea while the festival is there. While the festival is there nonetheless, as it’s for tourists to see.
@@InXLsisDeo but especially when the authoritarian regime of the country has multiple guides with you at all times showing you only what they want you to be shown, and presenting the entire country as a utopia
That ice cream cart scene is beyond fucked up. I doubt its there for anyone other than foreigners who have lucrative foreign currency to spend and videos to show of the carefully selected and manicured routes they're taken on.
Great video about a country that has always intrigued me. Thanks for your work in putting this up for us mate - super interesting and love the efforts you go to to show the rest of us a place that is really difficult to comprehend.
My great grandparents were born in North Korea (they were born in Korea) and they left the country to Uzbekistan before the divide when North and South became two different countries. My grandmother was born in Uzbekistan and she eventually moved from Uzbekistan to Russia and that’s where my father was born. I was born in Russia in October 2001 long after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In September 2018 five years ago I visited North Korea for about four or five days and I absolutely hated it inside and wanted to leave the country on day one because of how horrifying it felt. Since I’ve never seen the Soviet Union North Korea reminded me of a city in Avatar The Last Airbender TV show called Ba Sing Se. My family members and I were allowed to see exactly the same things shown in this video. You are constantly surveyed by government agents much like in Avatar The Last Airbender TV show in the city Ba Sing Se. I’m happy that my great grandparents managed to escape it long before the war.
0:25 Nothing should be scarier than to see all the architecture in the city, and how new and pristine it looks, in what is the Capital of NK, and it's like a ghost town. Doesn't matter what time it is, it's like 1/100th the populous of what a city that size should be. It's all about "perception", and that is truly frightening. It's all for show.
This video reminded of the first time I went to Disneyland as a kid. All the citizens made me feel welcome. It was a magical experience. But when I got older I realized It was all a sham. Snow White, Goofy, Micky Mouse, the 7 dwarves etc etc etc were nothing more than underpaid actors
Well if you pay like $2000 for a trip to Disneyland what else do you want? For them to treat you like crap? It’s a theme park in the United States, not a capital of a dangerous country they’re not similar at all, that’s like saying if some random person treats you nice they’re a sham because in North Korea Capital they treat you nice
If you're German, then you technically could pay your respects to the former fuhrer of Deutschland if you love and miss his ideology and agenda for he was yours. However, I would never bow down paying my respects to a foreign dictator nor Hitler for he wasn't mine and I know he failed miserably not to say my big old great Donald Trump is the greatest in history like some claim. This is where my liberal qualities quickly disappear and socially conservative patriotic ideology kicks in. Maybe I would pay my respects at Arlington Cemetery and my own memorials and most certainly not at a foreign war propaganda glorified dictator memorial like this one. North Korea is surprisingly familiar having lots of style of everything seen in South Korea so it's really not a necessary risk to take with videos of brave sojourners like this being a sufficient look for it's all he was able to see and know too being how tours are dictated.
Regular people in Pyongyang videos walk while trying not to stare, meanwhile she just stays in that small circle looking at people while holding a phone with both hands. She's supposed to stay lowkey and friendly, so possible "threats" can let their guard down, then she'll report "crimes" from people who got to comfortable.
The person I called "Watchers" official term is called "Minders". There job is to watch you so you don't say and do "disrespectful" things and GUIDE you.
11:50 They allow you to film whatever you want because they built those "tourist zones" for you to film, obviously they are not showing you the real North Korea, they are just showing you what they want you to see, so obviously there's no problem to film with such freedom over there.
It seems that you travelled in Pyongyang only... this is one single city that have a light at night and other NK people don't allow to enter into freely (I know you didn't allow to move to other place though). It means that most people in your film are communist members (probably high level) and their families. I have supported some NK defectors in SK and have read many news form the most reliable media in relation to NK. Please don't forget that there are more than 22,000,000 people still struggling and horribly controlled by the party outside of Pyongyang.
I've noticed in more recent videos like yours that things have relaxed a little there (at least for tourists). I remember seeing a few years ago the vice guide to north korea and it really was very strict. Still, i think anyone who goes there is pretty brave (or at lease naive) because if something was to go wrong, like for that poor american chap, then there is nothing your embassy can do, so youre pretty much on your own. Then there is the whole debate about funding a state like that, which lets its people starve etc. Either way, theres better places on the planet to go. Saying that, i think this video is awesome and the insights into the country and being able to see it from the comfort of my own home is great! so thanks for an awesome video!
it really give me the vibes there tying to improve there public image and need the money, i heard in another video they were trying to make/export there own cosmetic products. I'm not convinced the situation is improving for the regular North Korean.
@@LiveManga37 yeah i woulndt imagine for a minute things are improving for the north koreans especially those outside pyongyang. I remember previous tours and the locals werent allowed to engage at all with the foreigners, but here you see them playing football together and stuff.
I’m sure NK is aware of the other videos, especially Vice. They’ve completely manipulated their tourists each and every time, and they’re just getting “better” at it.
I'm really considering such a trip as well now. Of course as a Tourist you don't get to experience the real North Korea, even if you take longer tours and tours into parts of the country that are more rural. Still, it's very interesting in my opinion. Terrifying - and should I ever do it, I would propably be tense an somewhat nervous the whole time - but interesting.
Me too I would love to go but would be terrified to do something wrong and get arrested lol! Clever of them not to let you see the starving people and poverty in the countryside.Feel sorry for all those people trapped there.
that was no no ordinary evil uncle. That was one of uncle Kim's secret agent assassins prepared to strike with deadly VX gas at any moment if Jord says anything anti party.
If you want to explore more in-depth, you can find private tour guides, they can customise the trip according to your needs. I watched a serial of vlogs made by a Chinese tourist, he travelled to so many places that ordinary tours won't go.
my friend's dad worked as a football (soccer) coach in North Korea about10 years ago, and says a lot of ugly things happened to him there. Stuff at the hotel want's 20 dollars (that is big money there) to let him chat with his wife on Skype for 5 minutes, signed a contract for 12 months, but the military captain who is responsible for football (soccer) foreign couches extended that contract to 24 months without asking him, and you must stay and work, or go to prision for about 10 years. he was in the hotel all the time if he did not work, he was not allowed to walk alone, but only on Sundays for 4 hours with a guide
he walks around the hotel because it is only allowed to do so, he is driven to work by a military van. When he finally managed to terminate the contract after 19 months there, he stayed at the border for about 5 hours, reviewed everything, even watched the footage on camera and deleted everything, took away the contract and some other papers he had taken, as well as a couple of souvenirs. Bad expirience...
I hope that soon people are freely able to travel and interact with North Korea and it's population. I would like to see NK as an active participant and friend of the rest of the world. As of now it seems that they are behind a barrier and we dont know much about life there compared to other countries. We need less conflict and more friendship on Earth. This video only shows a sliver of the actual life of most people living there. If NK were more transparent with the general population, I imagine most of the world would have a more sympathetic opinion of the country. At least the people that aren't involved in government.
@@ext93 Exactly. Some people in the comments mock these people and how they live but it's not North Koreans' fault. They were just born in the wrong place. It's obvious that they're brainwashed to some degree. That's why I don't think people are being fair mocking by calling them actors or NPCs etc. As long as the Kim dynasty is around I don't think North Korea will ever open up to the world.
I've seen several videos by others who went on guided tours to North Korea; they're mostly from several years ago, and they show a more restricted experience. However, their trips were usually longer than yours, so perhaps there were more opportunities to get into trouble with their minders/tour guides. It's also possible that the North Koreans are taking a different approach to their foreign guests, giving them a bit more leeway. There are a lot of videos out there about trips to N. Korea, and they often deal with the over-zealous attempts at control. Maybe the N. Koreans are aware of this and want to avoid any further negative publicity on that score.
I read a graphic non-fiction "novel", (more a travelogue) by Guy Delisle who followed this trail who said he was rather alarmed that he did not see ONE elderly or disabled person on the streets at all...I wonder if you witnessed the same ?
NK will let you see what they want you to see, you cant even go outside without their governments tour guide, everything is still under their control.. But still praying for this country’s freedom 🙏🏻
I have seen some of youtubers videos about Nk and come to realize that they feature almost the same. Hoping next time they can show us their hospital, university, museum etc 😊..
Nice cropping Honestly though, a fascinating look into the country. Of course they'll show you what they want you to see, but ultimately that's just why you take the tour with a grain of salt.
Keep in mind, visiting that country and living there are two completely different things. Obviously if there are only certain places you can go, they want westerners to have the best possible perception of NK as they possibly can.
You felt fairly free to say whatever you wanted, but you still waited to till you were back in Beijing to discuss your first impressions because you didn't feel free to say what you wanted. 😂😂😂
Pyongyang isn't North Korea. The people you see there were hand selected to live there and they "work" there. It's all a facade like if you went to an amusement park like Disney world. The real North Korea is in the country, away from where the government allows tourists. The "jobs" they perform are like a movie- "girl on bike" that is her whole job every day at the same time be on a bike and bike around Pyongyang. Same with "businessmen late for appointment" that is literally his whole job to act like he is late for an appointment. It's why there is no one on the streets at night there. It's why everyone is dressed the same as you made a point to reference in this video. It's all a production to make North Korea seem prosperous to the rest of the world. It has been that way for 60 years. If you recorded the streets you would see the same people over and over walking in circles, same cars doing laps. In North Korea you are not allowed to go away from the tour groups, if you are a tourist and are found in other parts of the country you will be labeled a spy and arrested. I really wish people would stop being apologists for communist countries. If you like it enough to sugar coat what goes on there, then please go live there. @2:18 watch the time lapse video of the same vehicles doing laps to make it appear there is traffic in Pyongyang.
it's interesting how almost every north korea vlog ive seen has a visit to the 'once a year' festival.. seems like they only arrange tours around this period to showcase to foreigners?
I often see comments on videos about North Korea where people seem to think it's not all as bad as our media shows, etc etc... Yeah, you HAVE to take guides tours for a reason...
I enjoy watching videos that come out of North Korea. It’s always interesting to me to hear the tourist say their impression before they trip was that they would be very limited to what they could say or do. Then, after the trip, they say they felt totally uncontrolled. All the while they admit they had a guide with them the whole time and they could only go where they were allowed. Here’s my conclusion: these travelers are totally manipulated! They are on a huge stage, those around them are actors and what they see is totally scripted. Knowing that, I would still love to go!
It sort of makes me angry to see this because it's like visiting the resort side of Cuba. You don't see how the citizens really live. You only see what they want you to see. Then you have people that are so misguided that they think all of Cuba is like that. It's not. It's no wonder the tours of North Korea limit everyone's movements. If they really saw how the people lived, they would be shocked.
@@NathanHedglin Naturally there is more freedom in the west, but you still get fines, lose your job, have your kids taken from you, and can definitely get put in prison for having the wrong opinions and voicing them.
I thoroughly ENJOYED this VIDEO BLOG as it depicted normalcy in North Korea as my sons were born in Korea -SEOUL & PUSAN- SOUTH KOREA. I plan to visit Pusan as it is the farthest south and like an island too with balmy weather during winter then,
You seemed to have a lot more fun than many and it seems like you didn't have any fear, and others have had a lot of fear and it looks like they fed you well and they treated you with hospitality...
no city is that clean. guess why around there you see nothing else? so you focus on the ‘interesting’ things that you actually see. the stuff in pyongyang. the staged things and the „great statues“. nobody wants you to question the other side. the country. the festival, the „locals“, the ice truck, everything is staged.
I heard Japanese voice saying like "I cannot see what we are supposed to do" at 5:24 (and I am quite sure it came from a native Japanese speaker), which is quite surprising as the number of (known) Japanese tourists to NK in 2018 was only 360 according to a Toyokezai article.
honestly - you've seen a stage managed version of the country. People can be seriously assaulted by state guards for tearing a newspaper photo of their "supreme leader", also families are collectively punished if one member leaves. There are bonuses for fatally shooting North Koreans heading out of the country northward across the river, and much of the country does not have: water, sanitation, plumbing, light. Hundreds of thousands are in gulags, many people there "in the provinces" have permanent signs of malnutrition or scars from the regime, including incidents where children witness public executions, and older citizens witnessed a generation dying on the footpaths due to economic collapse decades ago, followed by continuing poverty. An issue with travel videos about the "tourist sites and visitor groups" version of North Korea is that it risks normalizing the totalitarian, abusive regime that evades much coverage in daily media. Most people have little or no footage of what happens in the wider community, or what the effect of information control, rallies and repeated state programming (brainwashing) has on individuals there.
What I find impressive is that even after two days, you have already taken some local "language habits", such as calling the Kims "supreme leaders". Powerful conditionning going on there....
He's probably just doing it to avoid any unforeseen consequences, they might take referring to the Kim's like this as an insult. edit: nvm I hadn't gotten to the part where he said that when I made the comment
Otto Warmbier was a US citizen traveling with Young Pioneer Tours as listed in your bio link. Mr. Warmbier was detained at the airport in Pyongyang on departure from N.Korea, eventually sent home dead. As a US citizen, I would avoid this tour. There has been too much political tension between countries. As always, thank you for sharing your experience and amazing content.
While you were saying you could speak freely while in North Korea at the end, in the middle your minders were moving in your background in order to keep up with and follow you. Just saying.
0:52 One the left, a guy in a green jacket leaves the hotel. After walking a few paces outside, he seems to inconspicuously look in the direction of the camera, then a few moments later he turns around and heads back into the building. Now this guy is brave. I could never visit a country like that knowing that I’m being monitored at all times and anything I do could potentially get me arrested.
"You have to show the statues in full frame. You can't crop anything."
*crops hand of Kim Il Sung*
I was thinking the exact same thing when I saw that; how did the "minders" miss that?
Watch out for female NOKO assassins.
You crop hand of North Korean leaders.
North Korea crops your hand.
@@LeeDee5 *crops your life
Remember otto warmbrier , fvk NK they are the enemy, dont support these evil fvks with ur stupid vlog
"They have to be in full frame"
Literally the second shot is not in full frame
Love your videos Collin
Been watching them for over a year now
Hey Colin, any chances of you doing bargaining in Pyongyang?😊 Love your vids
North Korea in your future ?
And puts whole head in front of statues.
it wasn't a photo, it was a video....
Thank you for shedding light on my beautiful Hermit Kingdom
😂😂
my friend thinks youre hot ^^
Holy shit! What if he is real.
Dang . He is showing +ve side of yours . 😂😂😉
Kom jong-un is dog
You know how in video games there are often buildings or scenery in the background that aren't interactable? That's what it feels like looking at some buildings.
Haha, interesting thought
You’re onto something. They are hiding something. Ask yourself what that may be.
That’s the truth, It really do be like that.
Those aren't even real buildings, they're large cardboard cutouts of buildings 😂
ALL of the people viewed from the train are NPCs
if you went outside of Pyongyang and filmed the real side of this country, you would never be seen again
Well there is video countryside near pyongyang
Even in North Korea the notoriety of Chinese tourist groups is also known. 😂
They are a headache here in Thailand 😭
They are also headache in my country
😂
Maybe thats why China implemented social credit ratings on their citizens
@Communist Jesus Russian moutains? Are you tripping?
9:31 'when the north korean spy follows you home'
@@sarah-6029 no shit. It was a joke....
It was literally the second he was going to comment on his opinion of NK. So odd.
@@sarah-6029 Thanks Captain Obvious, always present to ruin good jokes
ahahahah
I wouldn’t be suprised 😂
7:15 Can't show the losing team, they all disappeared that night for losing to the foreigners.
t ixoye 😂😂😂
Probably got sent to the working camps
t ixoye because they’re all malnourished and underweight
😂😂
who’s here after they got recommended “Morning in Pyongyan, very eerie”?
actually me :D
Me
me
Me, that's...eerie...
You eat more food in this trip than most North Koreans see in months.
O? BUT EVERYBODY IS HEALTHY! MIRACLE!
@@sundayspring252 Yea in Pyongyang everyone is healthy. Go outside the capital and you'll see the real North Korea
How did you get outside of the wall to know this? Any pictures?;
@@dingdongchingchong8659 mostly from the storied from defectors. Lots of times they are asked in South Korea to speak about it . Theres a TH-cam Channel called Dimple that has many North Korean Defectors on to talk about their life and why they defected
@@TotalyKill Its normal everywhere else too 😐
It reminds me of some weird movie set. It looks like a place stuck in 1959, the women dress and men suites and the decor of the buildings. The most enduring part of this was the soccer scene. It is amazing how sport transcends culture and people. Neat.
So basically Cuba
No> Cuba is completely different culture. Not saying Cuba is a great place to live either. @@pegcity4eva
The people in this video are all actors. It’s all staged. And yeah… they use sports since it’s best for propaganda.
Football*
Very likely that the people who played football and participated in tug of war were some bunch of selected people to show tourists, how much fun there is in North Korea. Similar as with stores full of food "for display".
Arnolds Baltnēģeris how do u know that tho
@@facemaskchannel7176 The fact that all groups of tourists are strictly controlled, where they go and what they see, no unattended arbitrary wandering around allowed whatsoever, tourist routes always the same etc. proves, that there is actually a different life behind the wall that tourists are not supposed to see.
Totally staged.
@@facemaskchannel7176 Because of the stories of people that have escaped NK. Common sense. If you have to go into a country that TAKES YOUR PASSPORT until you leave, that's a big red flag. If you can't go anywhere unattended or leave your hotel by yourself at all, that's a big red flag. If all of the videos from people touring NK are in the same places, that's a big red flag. One or two things is shady but all of that is just fucking wrong.
Not only that but no sane leader would have that many giant pictures of themselves just decorating the sides of buildings.
didnt james franco see a fat kid in his videos of nokor?
Excuse me Sir how can i get to the main square?
A: You have to take Kim Ill Sung street and then at Kim Jong Un street you must turn left and continue Kim Family Avenue and then you will see the international Kim Hotel, opposite to that is the Kim is a god who doesn't poop square..
Lmfao
Omggggg 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
HAHAHAHA 😂😂So good!!
😂😂
xD 😂😂😂😂
2:03 Every single person on that bus is looking straight at him.
Freaky stuff man
Probably because They hate foreigners over there and brainwashed
xD
Foreigner with a magical electronic device
Sht, i just noticed, proper creepy
Probably very rare to see non-asian tourists
"I feel like i was able to say anything while i was in Pyongyang, which is why im back here in China telling you how i felt, for my own safety."
When is the last time you saw someone getting executed for saying bad things about the CCP? When is the last time you see someone not being blocked on social media for support Donald trump?
@@richardmoskalyov8503 Jack Ma the owner of Alibaba has been missing since October after remarks about Chinese regulation stifling innovation. There are concentration camps in China for Muslims. There is also the Social Credit system in China. Meanwhile Trump is banned by a private company (Twitter, Facebook), can you imagine Weibo banning Xi Jinping? I think not.
@Squant Brainwashed lmao only elites live in Pyongyang go watch videos of actual NK defectors, they won't lie to you like this video does
@@z0h33y right? Exactly. These people painting China like it's a bastion of freedom are mislead
Have you been to China at all? If you haven't lived there for at least a year, you are in no position to say China is worse than NK.
"My first impression of North Korea is..."
Gets interrupted
Take 2: "My first impression of North Korea is..."
Mysterious wind noise
Gets 420 likes
LOL yes that was funny
hhhhhhhhhh so true
@@daewakilat1842 you mean funny of fun or funny of weird?
And then there would never be any Take3...
I cant imagine traveling to a country, where I cant walk the streets or talk to people. It is the main reason for me to travel around the world - experience where and how people live in different countries, experiencing their culture from themselves. The whole trip and the parts of the city you have been showed absolutely looks like a theater setup.
It is a theater setup. Because this isn't a country. It's a cult.
wtf u can talk to ppl and walk the streets there r u dumb
@@bt-rw1cu You have to stick by your tour guide, if you branch off from them you and the tour guide will both get punished, terribly.
@@silversmoke8398 it's more than just a cult it's a concentration camp of 25 million people.
Then u must be an native English speaker. So u can have the privilege to speak English freely around the world.
Only just discovered this channel - watched a few vids. Initial feeling is that I’m impressed - creator seems genuinely interested in giving his opinions rather than being obsessed with making sure the camera is all about him like lots of travel Vloggers do. This North Korea episode was ace - thank you
It just looks so bland and censored, i cant imagine living in a prison with invisible bars
And they don’t even think of it as a prison they don’t even know what life is like outside the wall
Really? To me it looks normal and quite nice since there are no posters with ads
@@bt-rw1cu trust me it’s a lady that escaped and she didn’t know how to live they’re all brainwashed they can look up anything outside of their country they don’t know what it’s like on the outside
@@bt-rw1cu You can go to prison for simply saying the wrong wrong or spelling the wrong thing or doing the wrong thing, you literally have to everything perfect to north korea's standards or otherwise you will go to a camp or even get killed.
Pyongyang is meant to look like they all live in normal lives, north korea specifically tries to get the most respectful and loyal citizens in pyongyang so it looks normal and a great life there, but the majority of north korea's population is in poverty and lives a terrible restricted life.
It's not that deep, bro.
Maybe American media has skewed your opinion. What if that's just their way of life? Just what if that's the best they have?
A tourist is treated a lot better than the people of that land. How sad.
Do you believe in Santa Claus and Fairy Tooth too?
@@sundayspring252 do you believe North Korea is fair and just to its people?
@@sundayspring252 do you think you're being funny? You're not. Kim Jong Un's regime is murderous. Defectors will tell you that.
@@ereynolds72 do you believe everything your government and media tells you?
@@MK-bi9qe no. How does this apply to my comment?
My first impression from the video shots is that it's really clean. Didn't see any litter anywhere.
Because it is a movie set for foreigners.
@@dimelo3027 i will show u a movie set of north korea. th-cam.com/video/lSe-TMSJpbg/w-d-xo.html
And you think his handlers will let him go any place? Why doesnt he try and steal a poster on the wall in his hotel. This is nothing more then propaganda for north korea and another source of income for a brutal idiot.
thats one of the pros of a communist country though. cant deny it
I think it's mainly they have nothing to litre because they are short on everything. Also it's sanctioned. No trash from foreign countries could make their way to N.K.
That festival in the park is staged. Since the tours are guided and of course scheduled, the people are there to interact with different tourists visiting everyday.
Yup. I also noticed the state photographers getting in close during the tug-of-war (7:19). Every bit is orchestrated for use elsewhere in state media.
I'm mexican, and in my country people dresses up as mayans (I'm from Cozumel island), and dance the "traditional dances to the traditional songs of our culture" every day to entertain the tourists. We sell "traditional" souvenirs that are produced in mass and come from places like China. We engage small talks with the tourists to sell them products "with history", among other things. So, I don't see the difference between what you said and any tourist center. Those places are made to look beautiful.
It's scary how many people agree with you
@@ODIRGO yup stuff like that's also happans in Fiji or Hawaii too.
ODIRGO the difference is you admit that people do it for tourism. North Korea says that this is a real festival enjoyed by North Koreans which happened only at that time and that the tourists were just lucky to arrive in North Korea while the festival is there. While the festival is there nonetheless, as it’s for tourists to see.
as a tourist you never get to see cruelty side of North Korea ,
Edit: Thanks for all likes
Which is every other side other than the one they present to you.
Homer Simpson or any totalitarian regime in that matter.
And if you see the cruel side they will probably kill you
As a tourist you never get to see the cruel side of any country you usually visit.
@@InXLsisDeo but especially when the authoritarian regime of the country has multiple guides with you at all times showing you only what they want you to be shown, and presenting the entire country as a utopia
be thankfull you came back :D :D
Ive seen several tour vlogs of Pyongyang, and i swear its like groundhog day. Same things over and over and over.
That ice cream cart scene is beyond fucked up. I doubt its there for anyone other than foreigners who have lucrative foreign currency to spend and videos to show of the carefully selected and manicured routes they're taken on.
Have to get everything in full frame
4:05 😂
Lolol so funny 😂😂😂😂
4:45
One of the best personal documentaries I have seen on North Korea and all the more pertinent because it was filmed this year (2019). Well done!
Then you haven't seen anything, sir.
Good video
Great video about a country that has always intrigued me. Thanks for your work in putting this up for us mate - super interesting and love the efforts you go to to show the rest of us a place that is really difficult to comprehend.
My great grandparents were born in North Korea (they were born in Korea) and they left the country to Uzbekistan before the divide when North and South became two different countries. My grandmother was born in Uzbekistan and she eventually moved from Uzbekistan to Russia and that’s where my father was born. I was born in Russia in October 2001 long after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In September 2018 five years ago I visited North Korea for about four or five days and I absolutely hated it inside and wanted to leave the country on day one because of how horrifying it felt. Since I’ve never seen the Soviet Union North Korea reminded me of a city in Avatar The Last Airbender TV show called Ba Sing Se. My family members and I were allowed to see exactly the same things shown in this video. You are constantly surveyed by government agents much like in Avatar The Last Airbender TV show in the city Ba Sing Se. I’m happy that my great grandparents managed to escape it long before the war.
0:25 Nothing should be scarier than to see all the architecture in the city, and how new and pristine it looks, in what is the Capital of NK, and it's like a ghost town. Doesn't matter what time it is, it's like 1/100th the populous of what a city that size should be. It's all about "perception", and that is truly frightening. It's all for show.
Fun fact: pretty much every single building in Pyongyang was leveled during the Korean war
This video reminded of the first time I went to Disneyland as a kid. All the citizens made me feel welcome. It was a magical experience.
But when I got older I realized It was all a sham. Snow White, Goofy, Micky Mouse, the 7 dwarves etc etc etc were nothing more than underpaid actors
Im pretty most of those actors enjoy their work. They like talking to kids and helping them have a fun time. Otherwise they wouldnt work there
And just like DPRK if you run into some secret government experiment in Disneyland you'll "disappear".
Look up the documentary Children of Orange County and you will see how fake America can be.
Well if you pay like $2000 for a trip to Disneyland what else do you want? For them to treat you like crap?
It’s a theme park in the United States, not a capital of a dangerous country they’re not similar at all, that’s like saying if some random person treats you nice they’re a sham because in North Korea Capital they treat you nice
@@jazroNA my comment flew right over your head and it is still flying
The statue bowing is pretty insane. It's like if you went to a giant statue of Hitler in Germany and laid flowers and bowed.
If you're German, then you technically could pay your respects to the former fuhrer of Deutschland if you love and miss his ideology and agenda for he was yours. However, I would never bow down paying my respects to a foreign dictator nor Hitler for he wasn't mine and I know he failed miserably not to say my big old great Donald Trump is the greatest in history like some claim. This is where my liberal qualities quickly disappear and socially conservative patriotic ideology kicks in. Maybe I would pay my respects at Arlington Cemetery and my own memorials and most certainly not at a foreign war propaganda glorified dictator memorial like this one. North Korea is surprisingly familiar having lots of style of everything seen in South Korea so it's really not a necessary risk to take with videos of brave sojourners like this being a sufficient look for it's all he was able to see and know too being how tours are dictated.
More like if there was a statue of Donald Trump in Washington DC.
@@sportinglines5420 LOL That might become a thing...
Tube Specific I doubt it.
Hitler < Kim
Lady at 2:51 was defiantly a "watcher" checking to see if she needed to report your friend for doing something "bad" to the flag.
Regular people in Pyongyang videos walk while trying not to stare, meanwhile she just stays in that small circle looking at people while holding a phone with both hands. She's supposed to stay lowkey and friendly, so possible "threats" can let their guard down, then she'll report "crimes" from people who got to comfortable.
that was the tour guide you moron
Think it may of been the tour guide...
The person I called "Watchers" official term is called "Minders". There job is to watch you so you don't say and do "disrespectful" things and GUIDE you.
7:38 this guy on the right with arms crossed and another a few second later are mind stalkers guys too. They follow him silently on his back .
11:50 They allow you to film whatever you want because they built those "tourist zones" for you to film, obviously they are not showing you the real North Korea, they are just showing you what they want you to see, so obviously there's no problem to film with such freedom over there.
that dude at 9:39 was really nice
It seems that you travelled in Pyongyang only... this is one single city that have a light at night and other NK people don't allow to enter into freely (I know you didn't allow to move to other place though). It means that most people in your film are communist members (probably high level) and their families. I have supported some NK defectors in SK and have read many news form the most reliable media in relation to NK. Please don't forget that there are more than 22,000,000 people still struggling and horribly controlled by the party outside of Pyongyang.
Note: no reply by the video blogger a year later. Very poor!
That one chick held the flag and said "put it in your car" lmfaoo yeah .... okay
Felipe Herrera she was so hot tho😂😂😂
@@AL-mj3he yeah I thought the same ha
Couldn't understand a word of what she said! All I heard was "prrr. ... prrr. .."
@@AL-mj3he yeah faxxx
timestamp please
I've noticed in more recent videos like yours that things have relaxed a little there (at least for tourists). I remember seeing a few years ago the vice guide to north korea and it really was very strict. Still, i think anyone who goes there is pretty brave (or at lease naive) because if something was to go wrong, like for that poor american chap, then there is nothing your embassy can do, so youre pretty much on your own. Then there is the whole debate about funding a state like that, which lets its people starve etc. Either way, theres better places on the planet to go.
Saying that, i think this video is awesome and the insights into the country and being able to see it from the comfort of my own home is great! so thanks for an awesome video!
it really give me the vibes there tying to improve there public image and need the money, i heard in another video they were trying to make/export there own cosmetic products.
I'm not convinced the situation is improving for the regular North Korean.
@@LiveManga37 yeah i woulndt imagine for a minute things are improving for the north koreans especially those outside pyongyang. I remember previous tours and the locals werent allowed to engage at all with the foreigners, but here you see them playing football together and stuff.
I’m sure NK is aware of the other videos, especially Vice. They’ve completely manipulated their tourists each and every time, and they’re just getting “better” at it.
@Ammonia 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
@Ammonia The main reason is that they have a really strong connection with China.
Not shown: The losers of tug of war were sentenced to 8 years hard labour
omg lmaoo!! So bad haha
Luca94 it is not funning when u get that
@@crarewhiteheadpoin9471 it's not true
Very good and interesting video that jord! Thanks
I'm really considering such a trip as well now. Of course as a Tourist you don't get to experience the real North Korea, even if you take longer tours and tours into parts of the country that are more rural. Still, it's very interesting in my opinion. Terrifying - and should I ever do it, I would propably be tense an somewhat nervous the whole time - but interesting.
Se for, venha nos contar a sua experiência!
Me too I would love to go but would be terrified to do something wrong and get arrested lol! Clever of them not to let you see the starving people and poverty in the countryside.Feel sorry for all those people trapped there.
Lol. I am in China, I can say whatever I want - immediately an evil uncle appears
that was no no ordinary evil uncle. That was one of uncle Kim's secret agent assassins prepared to strike with deadly VX gas at any moment if Jord says anything anti party.
@@garrysekelli6776 🤣 word
Dude Looks Like a walking stereotype
Never been to China, right?
@@fredwu7169 dude, this was a joke...
2:34 lucky they didn’t know you mispronounced the “great supreme leader’s name” kim yong il lol
Love this.
Thank you very much for uploading this amazing video,
You always seem out of breath, is the capital high altitude
If you want to explore more in-depth, you can find private tour guides, they can customise the trip according to your needs. I watched a serial of vlogs made by a Chinese tourist, he travelled to so many places that ordinary tours won't go.
Great job! I couldn’t imagine visiting such a place, but it looks interesting from the video.
LOL went to NK with no trousers - that’s a bold move
my friend's dad worked as a football (soccer) coach in North Korea about10 years ago, and says a lot of ugly things happened to him there. Stuff at the hotel want's 20 dollars (that is big money there) to let him chat with his wife on Skype for 5 minutes, signed a contract for 12 months, but the military captain who is responsible
for football (soccer)
foreign couches extended that contract to 24 months without asking him, and you must stay and work, or go to prision for about 10 years. he was in the hotel all the time if he did not work, he was not allowed to walk alone, but only on Sundays for 4 hours with a guide
he walks around the hotel because it is only allowed to do so, he is driven to work by a military van. When he finally managed to terminate the contract after 19 months there, he stayed at the border for about 5 hours, reviewed everything, even watched the footage on camera and deleted everything, took away the contract and some other papers he had taken, as well as a couple of souvenirs. Bad expirience...
Wow
Felicitaciones Jord, buen contenido, y una mirada interesante a un lugar tan extraño y lejano para muchos de nosotros.
Your tour seems a little more laid back than in other videos i've seen that are at least 5 years old now.
north korea is getting more relaxed with tourists. its not as strict anymore as it used to be.. for tourists at least!
I hope that soon people are freely able to travel and interact with North Korea and it's population. I would like to see NK as an active participant and friend of the rest of the world. As of now it seems that they are behind a barrier and we dont know much about life there compared to other countries. We need less conflict and more friendship on Earth. This video only shows a sliver of the actual life of most people living there. If NK were more transparent with the general population, I imagine most of the world would have a more sympathetic opinion of the country. At least the people that aren't involved in government.
@@ext93 Exactly. Some people in the comments mock these people and how they live but it's not North Koreans' fault. They were just born in the wrong place. It's obvious that they're brainwashed to some degree. That's why I don't think people are being fair mocking by calling them actors or NPCs etc. As long as the Kim dynasty is around I don't think North Korea will ever open up to the world.
I’m absolutely shocked by all the positive, naive comments, i.e. “so clean! The media is so wrong, it’s beautiful!” Guess I’m the naive one...
They look like lovely people. An amazing video blog. Thanks Jord.
lol
I've seen several videos by others who went on guided tours to North Korea; they're mostly from several years ago, and they show a more restricted experience. However, their trips were usually longer than yours, so perhaps there were more opportunities to get into trouble with their minders/tour guides. It's also possible that the North Koreans are taking a different approach to their foreign guests, giving them a bit more leeway. There are a lot of videos out there about trips to N. Korea, and they often deal with the over-zealous attempts at control. Maybe the N. Koreans are aware of this and want to avoid any further negative publicity on that score.
I read a graphic non-fiction "novel", (more a travelogue) by Guy Delisle who followed this trail who said he was rather alarmed that he did not see ONE elderly or disabled person on the streets at all...I wonder if you witnessed the same ?
HOLY SHIT- FIRBVOUROTNGUNTIYUNINB
4:06 You cropped out out his hand! To the salt mines with you!
4:18 hand was in full frame
NK will let you see what they want you to see, you cant even go outside without their governments tour guide, everything is still under their control..
But still praying for this country’s freedom 🙏🏻
Bok Joo North Korea is doing the right thing no place for white people and there dirt followers
I'm sure you're talking about SK who's still US Colony.
The human spirit will always rise to freedom. Even if it takes decades for them to see past the brainwashing, they'll have a revolution someday.
@Michael G Fucking hilarious
Good content! Keep it up!
I have seen some of youtubers videos about Nk and come to realize that they feature almost the same. Hoping next time they can show us their hospital, university, museum etc 😊..
Nice cropping
Honestly though, a fascinating look into the country. Of course they'll show you what they want you to see, but ultimately that's just why you take the tour with a grain of salt.
Such an interesting journey, can't wait to see more!
Keep in mind, visiting that country and living there are two completely different things. Obviously if there are only certain places you can go, they want westerners to have the best possible perception of NK as they possibly can.
Exactly
You felt fairly free to say whatever you wanted, but you still waited to till you were back in Beijing to discuss your first impressions because you didn't feel free to say what you wanted. 😂😂😂
Pyongyang isn't North Korea. The people you see there were hand selected to live there and they "work" there. It's all a facade like if you went to an amusement park like Disney world. The real North Korea is in the country, away from where the government allows tourists. The "jobs" they perform are like a movie- "girl on bike" that is her whole job every day at the same time be on a bike and bike around Pyongyang. Same with "businessmen late for appointment" that is literally his whole job to act like he is late for an appointment. It's why there is no one on the streets at night there. It's why everyone is dressed the same as you made a point to reference in this video. It's all a production to make North Korea seem prosperous to the rest of the world. It has been that way for 60 years. If you recorded the streets you would see the same people over and over walking in circles, same cars doing laps. In North Korea you are not allowed to go away from the tour groups, if you are a tourist and are found in other parts of the country you will be labeled a spy and arrested. I really wish people would stop being apologists for communist countries. If you like it enough to sugar coat what goes on there, then please go live there.
@2:18 watch the time lapse video of the same vehicles doing laps to make it appear there is traffic in Pyongyang.
I know this is an old comment, but that is very interesting and I didn’t know that! That’s crazy they go to all that effort
If you remember can you let me know where you found that information because I would like to read more on it. I’m honestly in shock ha
I also heard about it 😢
The music being played in the speakers is so creepy omg
7:27 those two in blue gave absolute everything they had in them to win
Come to Venezuela. I can give you a tour.
9:36 LMAO WHY ARE BRITISH PPL SO AWKWARD 😭 That’s literally me
it's interesting how almost every north korea vlog ive seen has a visit to the 'once a year' festival.. seems like they only arrange tours around this period to showcase to foreigners?
3:03 The people go backwards in north korea =O
it’s called video effect.
@@jorgenvonstrangle000 it's called a joke.
i was searching this hahaha
@@jorgenvonstrangle000 r/wooosh
I wonder if he realizes that everything he saw- the whole show was put together just for him.
Paul Tenberg well he should be thankful, never in any countries put warm greet such effort like that.
umm you cropped the statue at 4:06
4:58, when you say "0.75c in USD" does that mean its worth 3/4 of a cent on 75 cents?
I often see comments on videos about North Korea where people seem to think it's not all as bad as our media shows, etc etc... Yeah, you HAVE to take guides tours for a reason...
Dude, you know Young Pioneers is the one Otto Wambier went to NK with?
Oops. That's the visa for your return visit turned down. Another great video.
Finally wait till you update the video, so lucky~~
Good Vid! Enjoyed it.
The first vlog I watched on your channel, North korea trip ☺
I enjoy watching videos that come out of North Korea. It’s always interesting to me to hear the tourist say their impression before they trip was that they would be very limited to what they could say or do. Then, after the trip, they say they felt totally uncontrolled. All the while they admit they had a guide with them the whole time and they could only go where they were allowed. Here’s my conclusion: these travelers are totally manipulated! They are on a huge stage, those around them are actors and what they see is totally scripted. Knowing that, I would still love to go!
It sort of makes me angry to see this because it's like visiting the resort side of Cuba. You don't see how the citizens really live. You only see what they want you to see. Then you have people that are so misguided that they think all of Cuba is like that. It's not. It's no wonder the tours of North Korea limit everyone's movements. If they really saw how the people lived, they would be shocked.
Not everyone in Pyongyang can be an actor bro
@@kennyt4849 100%. If they do anything wrong they'll be sent to a labor camp
@@NathanHedglin Naturally there is more freedom in the west, but you still get fines, lose your job, have your kids taken from you, and can definitely get put in prison for having the wrong opinions and voicing them.
Or, its possible that western media lies because sensationalism is more valuable than absolute truth.
Nice streets!! Nice infrastructures, deprived people.
Meanwhile In most African countries They dont have all this but the people are freeee.
The country would have been way more developed if it was free , like south korea
@@kaldrz4328 Yes.
I guess this place is still living in the 80s or early 90s
Yup. It's feel like time travel to the past
I thoroughly ENJOYED this VIDEO BLOG as it depicted normalcy in North Korea as my sons were born in Korea -SEOUL & PUSAN- SOUTH KOREA. I plan to visit Pusan as it is the farthest south and like an island too with balmy weather during winter then,
You seemed to have a lot more fun than many and it seems like you didn't have any fear, and others have had a lot of fear and it looks like they fed you well and they treated you with hospitality...
2:03 everyone on the bus is staring straight at your group
Why does everything look so fake?
Why even ask if you know the answer? They only show areas made for tourists, made to look good, made to look clean. It is fake.
USA looks fake too......
Like a giant mall...
no city is that clean. guess why around there you see nothing else? so you focus on the ‘interesting’ things that you actually see. the stuff in pyongyang. the staged things and the „great statues“. nobody wants you to question the other side. the country. the festival, the „locals“, the ice truck, everything is staged.
I guess it's because of the background music, it makes everything look even more fake than it actually is.
you frog in the well. frog=you well=internet. pathetic.
I'm curious how much it would cost to take a NK tour coming from America.
I heard Japanese voice saying like "I cannot see what we are supposed to do" at 5:24 (and I am quite sure it came from a native Japanese speaker), which is quite surprising as the number of (known) Japanese tourists to NK in 2018 was only 360 according to a Toyokezai article.
honestly - you've seen a stage managed version of the country.
People can be seriously assaulted by state guards for tearing a newspaper photo of their "supreme leader", also families are collectively punished if one member leaves.
There are bonuses for fatally shooting North Koreans heading out of the country northward across the river, and much of the country does not have: water, sanitation, plumbing, light.
Hundreds of thousands are in gulags, many people there "in the provinces" have permanent signs of malnutrition or scars from the regime, including incidents where children witness public executions, and older citizens witnessed a generation dying on the footpaths due to economic collapse decades ago, followed by continuing poverty.
An issue with travel videos about the "tourist sites and visitor groups" version of North Korea is that it risks normalizing the totalitarian, abusive regime that evades much coverage in daily media. Most people have little or no footage of what happens in the wider community, or what the effect of information control, rallies and repeated state programming (brainwashing) has on individuals there.
What I find impressive is that even after two days, you have already taken some local "language habits", such as calling the Kims "supreme leaders". Powerful conditionning going on there....
but that's their titles... it doesn't have anything to do with brainwashing. What else is he supposed to call them?
@@dylandailey7337 true! Mb. I thought he was president or something...
Is he supposed to call them president or something.....?
President is a American and western term, Just like Mayor, or Chief of Staff...not all countries use that terminology
He's probably just doing it to avoid any unforeseen consequences, they might take referring to the Kim's like this as an insult.
edit: nvm I hadn't gotten to the part where he said that when I made the comment
as long as you are in pyongyang, it's more or less ok. But the second you start filming in the countryside and the poor people, the controversy starts
this is like going to disney world and saying that it's your average town in america
the "may day festival" looks like a sports day.
The kids with the football, the impromptu tag of war , that was all stage managed
always wanted to visit N Korea, video really helps
Should not be visited, your money will support the dictators pockets (no matter what people say to make it look like not, it will!!)
@@JL-wf2wp how about you go fuyck yourself and keep your head in your own hole
Lmao then go to your lovable North Korea u shithead
Let's see if you can get back from there
I need 1000 subs. You can always get back from there, if you respect the laws and don't break them.
This is the same thing in every country.
Have fun in a communist dictatorship imbecile.
0:27 *drops his camera off the balcony*
Him: THIS PLACE SUCKS
kim: what did you say!
Otto Warmbier was a US citizen traveling with Young Pioneer Tours as listed in your bio link. Mr. Warmbier was detained at the airport in Pyongyang on departure from N.Korea, eventually sent home dead. As a US citizen, I would avoid this tour. There has been too much political tension between countries. As always, thank you for sharing your experience and amazing content.
While you were saying you could speak freely while in North Korea at the end, in the middle your minders were moving in your background in order to keep up with and follow you. Just saying.
0:52 One the left, a guy in a green jacket leaves the hotel. After walking a few paces outside, he seems to inconspicuously look in the direction of the camera, then a few moments later he turns around and heads back into the building.
Now this guy is brave. I could never visit a country like that knowing that I’m being monitored at all times and anything I do could potentially get me arrested.