As North Korea and the US sit down for talks in Singapore this week, I found myself wondering if it would be possible to visit under normal circumstances in the future, and if so, would I go?
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The Talks
Today, both the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea or DPRK for this post), Kim Jong Un and the President of the United States, Donald Trump arrived in Singapore. For what it’s worth, and this is exclusively an opinion piece so I intend on making as many broad conclusions as I like, I think that every detail has been calculated to the smallest. They both arrived by 747, though this is not Kim Jung Un’s regular ride, there was some speculation as to how he would reach the summit, but his previous transport was more than capable of making the journey. While the talks will be held at the Capella Resort in Sentosa, Kim Jung Un will stay at the St. Regis Singapore.
The two countries, at odds for decades, will have mostly reached an agreement before either of the two leaders stepped foot off the plane. Though both made overtures to canceling the meeting at separate points in time, if they both decided to go to Singapore, Trump directly after leaving G-7 talks you can believe they will find a resolution to the long dispute.
Suspected resolutions are as follows:
- North Korea will cease development of nuclear weapons
- The US and allies will remove sanctions
- There may be a draw-down of forces that the US/South Korea and Japan have built up bordering North Korea
- Independent inspectors will be required to ensure North Korea dismantles their nuclear program
- Diplomatic support will be set up in both countries (Embassies in Pyongyang and Washington DC)
Current Diplomatic Situation
As it currently stands, neither country has an operable embassy in the other country. The Korean War in which the US participated on behalf of South Korea (Republic of Korea) against DPRK never technically ended with the North and South at an armistice for 60 years, establishing the DMZ (de-militarized zone) though the two sides kept their weapons pointed diligently at the other side of the border.
If either an American or North Korean finds themselves in a diplomatic issue in the other country, they are on their own. While interventions in one-off cases have taken place in the case of Warmbier and others, DPRK is not a country that an American would want to find themselves on the wrong side of the law, even if that means leaving a Bible in a bathroom.
Of all the countries this site’s own, Matthew Klint, has visited without diplomatic support – the DPRK is not one of them. He has visited Iran (prior to the Iran nuclear deal), Cuba before former President Obama relaxed enforcement of restrictions since the Kennedy era, but not North Korea, not yet anyway.
If Things Go Well
If the talks are successful, though both leaders have been prone to bombastic tones and surprising actions, it could mean the country is opened up. Using my crystal ball, I envision a situation similar to China. When in China, I avoid sensitive areas, I don’t take photos where they might draw attention. I adhere to both spoken and unspoken rules for decorum of Americans in China.
I would expect that when sanctions are lifted, I can freely spend money in the DPRK without facing scrutiny from the Treasury Department (though it may be awhile before Visa and Mastercard set up shop). If embassies are built in each country, I would be able to go there freely and should I run into trouble, should have support and a diplomatic process for dealing with it.
While I couldn’t speculate on whether I would be able to get an Airbnb (probably not) or use hotel points to pay for my stay, I would suspect that I could use points to offset the cost of airfare, even though Air China partners may not directly list it as a destination and load it into the GDS.
I would also expect that if I were to go, I would be received with mixed emotions. I list a couple of books below where they each outline the indoctrination of the people against Americans, Dennis Rodman exempted. And I think that I would learn a lot about an area of the world that has been off limits for a long time. I look forward to educating myself on what it means to be North Korean.
Both South and North Korean parties long for the reunification of the Korean peninsula. People on both sides of the border still have family connections on the other. I doubt that it will be as simple as hopping on a train in Seoul for Pyongyang for some time, but East and West Germans probably felt just as far apart as the Koreans do now. I remain optimistic but skeptical they will achieve the same outcome.
Probably Not For Awhile… Though Tempting
I am not a history buff per se, but I recall reading about Germans before WWII using Deutsch Marks for wallpaper because it was cheaper than buying rolls themselves. I have listened to a couple of great Audible books on the topic and found myself captivated by the country. (This isn’t a plug for Audible, but they give you three free books during a trial which you can cancel for free at any time, my two favorites are: My Holiday in North Korea: The Funniest/Worst Place on Earth and Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives In North Korea)
I wanted to visit Venezuela prior to the collapse which has not yet taken place, but seems all but a foregone conclusion. The DPRK is not as dangerous on the streets as Venezuela, and following successful talks and opening up, it shouldn’t be dangerous for Americans to visit politcally either.
If I were a single man today, perhaps I would go. I might enjoy Kish Island as Matthew did and I might have taken a further risk to go to Venezuela before things really went off the rails when I was planning a trip in March of 2017. But I am not a single man, I have a wife and daughter that love to travel the world with me. DPRK is a place they too might want to see, but even after sanctions are lifted and if the country opens up, it will probably be some time before we book a flight to Pyongyang.
Unless of course, my wife says yes. In that case, we are on the next flight.
What do you think about visiting North Korea (DPRK)? Would you go if there was diplomatic support? Would you go if there wasn’t? Have you been – please comment if you have been.
Hi
I have been 4 years ago for 10 days. If all goes well I will go back in November to see the rest of the country.
The first time it was awesome. Its interesting to see how a country based on different ideas functions. Its fully safe for sure. Just follow the law they have as you would follow law anywhere else. We are not the ones to tell them.
I dont know if i can put a link but some stories and many photo kn my site.
Oh well, a bit of communism isnt bad at all. We should mix some in most democracies. Will be better.
That sounds great. Safe trip and please feel free to comment back with your link, I am sure our readership would love to hear about your experience.
Check here:
http://www.christravelblog.com/destinations/asia/rest-of-asia/dprk-north-korea/
Did you know there are even luxury things to do there?
I would not go. North Korea has a nasty habit of making things personal. Examples are like kidnapping Japanese because they want a language teacher or making Otto Warmbier brain damaged.
The world has roughly 200 countries and separate entities, like territories. There are many places that are worth a visit before North Korea.
Derek, I guess I am hoping that with diplomatic support and greater oversight that incidents for which we have both described will become a thing of that past. Optimistic and naive I am sure. But I would say that without a doubt, DPRK is one of the few unique places left. No Starbucks, no McDonalds, and a people that don’t even have access to the internet. While there are 200 countries in the world, how many with citizenry that have been mostly untouched by the outside world in 50 years?
I think you are getting way ahead of yourself. You should know by now that Trump is not going to make an Obama/Iran style deal where we lift sanctions up front and hand over piles of money for the promise of future actions. This will be a very slow process, and will likely be set back a few more times when NK most assuredly plays their only card again, which is making empty threats and demands. Don’t make your vacation plans just yet.
That said, I am proud to say I have technically been to NK…in Panmunjom village, inside the blue buildings.
Two thoughts on this. Given that the collapse of their nuclear facility has already taken place, it will be more an act of evaluating whether they try and rebuild the site or if there are others, but their largest site is no longer a threat. Pompeo said today that there will be no sanctions lifted until they denuclearize.
I haven’t contacted Apple Vacations for my booking just yet…
President Trump is handling this with grace & dignity.
KICK EM OUT!!!!
MAGA
Beying from a former communist Country (Poland) I would never go. “Just follow the law” sounds very naive. There is no law in countries like this. They can do anything they want with you. There is a say “ give me a person and I will find something to charge him with”. You sneeze at the wrong time and it will be a “ way to destroy the communism”
Otto Wambier case is not a warning sign?
Exactly. I grew up in Cuba. “Just follow the law” demonstrate a lack of basic understanding about how repressive dictatorships operate. There are no “laws”, due process or any basic human rights. Any time you are visiting DPKR you are gambling with your life, and like with any gambling, the house always wins.
I guess, from my perspective, I wouldn’t be planting any bibles or stealing any posters, I consider that to be playing by the rules since those seem to be the cases in which Americans are held in NoKo.
Americans aren’t held for planting bibles or stealing posters. Again, basic understanding of how dictatorships work. Americans are being held to be used as hostages in future negotiations and concessions, and to for a photo opportunity to get foreign dignitaries to fly to DPKR to ask for their release. The reason why you get kidnapped is irrelevant. Not worth the risk/reward ratio IMO but to each his own.
Not to mention there are certain countries where I will not spend a dime. DPKR kills and starves its own people. My money will not be used to fund that regime.
I would only suggest going if you are interested in participating in the NKDP (North Korean Diet Plan). After finding you guilty of whatever the broken rule of the day is, without a trial, you are sentenced to 15-35 years hard labor and unlike the west, it is HARD labor – actually a death sentence, you’ll never make 15 years the brain damage, lack of food, intestinal parasites and medical care will take you out in about 5-7 years – but you will certainly lose weight while digging out mountain sites with sporks for the dear leaders new nuclear test site…
I could use a diet…
I’d happily chip in to help get you there.
Smug asshole.
Used to love visiting this site. Am done.
I went 2.5 years ago and it was the most interesting place I have ever been. It’s totally safe as long as you play by the rules and don’t do anything stupid.
If you are expecting a “resolution to the long dispute” after this summit, you are crazy. At best, this will be the beginning of a long, long process of normalization that can easily be knocked off-target by actions on either side.
I don’t expect Trump nor Un to use a Harry Potter-style magic wand to the problems, there is always a slow climb out in these sorts of situations. However, my wife and I were fortunate to visit Myanmar shortly after they opened the country up. In fact, we arrived just two days after (the late) Anthony Bourdain (that’s a sad line to type) visited and there was a curious glimpse inside this place where things had been more or less left alone for 25 years. It was like walking through a Rudyard Kipling novel but with the buildings in disrepair.
I don’t think all will be fixed but it wouldn’t be hard to open up.
I also spent a month in Myanmar before it had “opened up” (or possibly during, depending on your definition, since it was never really closed to foreign tourism) – I was actually there in 2011 at the same time that Hillary Clinton’s became the first US Sec of State to visit since the 1962 coup. It is still my favorite trip I’ve ever taken.
North Korea is so very different. There is no chance that it will be thrown open to unsupervised tourism any time soon. The government basically has no incentive to allow that and there is zero infrastructure for it anyway. I still think the most to hope for from this summit is an agreement for future talks and some small, symbolic gestures toward normalization.
You’re probably right, I guess maybe I am just a bit more hopeful than realistic on this matter out of a desire to visit.
If you go, I agree with the folks saying just follow the rules and you’ll be fine. Also, pick the tour company that you feel safe with. I went back in 2011 when a friend worked at the German embassy in Pyongyang and again in 2017 right before the ban and felt very safe (US passport holder here.)
Yes, you may only see the nice parts of the country but isn’t that what the majority of tourists do when they go to NYC or London or Tokyo? My point is the average tourist does not visit a country to see starving or homeless people. Good luck and I hope you get to see it. Yes there will be propaganda everywhere but I’ve come to think all the ads of consumer goods in the West can be seen as a form of propaganda too.
I’m not into poverty tourism but I did love, in one of the books I mentioned, the impromptu approach of everything and how extras were sent to make places look busy on a moment’s notice.
Obama opened Cuba and Teump closed it Go figure! Why should this be any different?
Sad times
Yeah Obama opened up Cuba, with zero requirements from them, only benefits. Obama also handed over billions to Iran, who used that money to fund bloodshed across the middle east. Obama’s foreign policy of giving money to regimes that hate us was a complete disaster, no matter what you think of his socialist domestic policies. If he is your measuring stick for success, then it should be an easy win for Trump.
North Korea could well be a good alternative to Canada. The Canucks have gone feral and deserve a “special place in hell”, so expect more Americans to look to the new best friend for a relaxing vacation. Plus, one suspects the food is better there.
I loathe Canada (not Canadians) after several bad experiences at immigration. While I am still more likely to visit Canada before DPRK, it’s not my first choice.
I’ve been 3 times. Currently US citizens are not allowed to visit by the State Dept, and no tour company will entertain the idea of Americans visiting; I’ve tried extensively. So it’s not a matter of should you go, it’s a matter of can you go.
Most American tourists in DPRK fly from Beijing and go through tour companies there. But I guess part of the hope is that the State Department will take away the restriction of visiting at all.
Even if diplomatic relations were opened it will be some time before I’m willing to think about a visit there. The risk/reward ratio is just too out of balance.
Well 121Pilot, we usually agree. But I think the reward is pretty high, the risk right now is still higher. Lower that risk and I am interested in going.
The meeting is held at the Capella Resort in sentosa island. There is no such thing as a Fulton resort in Singapore.
Thanks JW, you are correct, I am not sure where I found that. Correction made.
Going later this year, I booked this way back last year before the recent positive developments. I think that even if the talks do go well that they won’t open up, at least not within the next decade. It would be very radical if they did but you have to consider that currently you have a government minder with you everywhere you go. But I view this as mor of a publicity stunt for Trump, he getting a lot of attention that he wouldn’t otherwise be getting if he was say reneotiating the Iran deal or the Paris agreement. It an ego boost all round.
I think the whole approach has been radical though, so maybe that will change. It’s publicity for both Un and Trump, I don’t think either one has more or less to gain or lose than the other. They both have to come away with an agreement, they both have big egos, they will both want a meaningful result. I think for Trump that is denuclearization and for Un that is the removal of sanctions, but status as the Hermit Kingdom will have to go away if he wants to modernize his country, a stated goal.
Went in April 2013. American citizen, had no problems. The dude that died recently is just an idiot that did something really stupid (FYI you can just buy all the propaganda you want, further proof that the kid is an idiot). I would guess he tried to hang himself and that eventually led to his coma and death. Why do you think the parents declined an autopsy even though there were no signs of bruising or anything of that nature? They just wanted to blame Obama and NK for being mean. Play by the rules and you’ll be fine. It was a very eye-opening experience and worth it.
As things stand now, US citizens are banned by the US government from visiting North Korea, are they not? Also, the leader of North Korea’s surname is Kim, not Un. Calling him Un is akin to calling the US President “Ald.”