Glimpses of DPRK – the hermit kingdom

The giant statues of Kim il-Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansudae Hill, Pyongyang

Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) at theNorth and South Korean border

To begin with, I didn’t think I would ever go to North Korea, but eventually I did. I am glad I did too – coz now I have stories to tell. Stories that are hard to believe – but stories that are true.

It is not the easiest place to go to or cheap or recommended – but I’d say if you live to see new places and experience new things, a visit to DPRK would serve you well on all those counts.

It is like nothing you have ever seen and I mean that in a completely unflattering way. Our pre-tour briefing began with a list of things ‘Not To Do’ which was more than what you will ever hear on school picnics and surprisingly, once I was there, I realized that the list should have been longer! There is pretty much everything you “cannot do” and things that you can do usually includes taking pictures of the Kims that pretty much exist everywhere!!

The Arch of Triumph -the first thing you see after entering DPRK. Modelled after Arc de Triumph in Paris, it is also the largest arch in the world.

Fortunately, I did not know much of DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) before I went, except all that the media portrayed or like to portray, so I was mildly shocked at everything I saw – including the gigantic (but empty) buildings in the city of Pyongyang, the sparkling clean streets and the absolute  obedience to the Great Leader – which, if you come from any country that believes in individual freedom, would seem a little weird.

The Reunification Monument on the Tongil Expressway to Panmunjom

Flower girl at the Mansudae Hill

Tourists get ‘served’ in such style!

Funnily enough, the people of DPRK do not like to be called North Koreans –  they do not accept the geographical divide between the south and the north and refer to themselves as Koreans. Period.