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Abstract:
This video documents a rare trip to Pyongyang, North Korea, undertaken by two Westerners presenting themselves as amateur athletes for the Pyongyang Marathon, marking their claim as among the first Westerners to enter the capital in over five years since the border closure. The visit begins with the journey via the distinct Koryo Air and a detailed description of the rigorous customs process. The narrative follows their guided tour through the city, highlighting key ideological sites such as the massive statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the Juche Tower, and the Party Foundation Monument, while noting the profound respect locals demonstrate for their leaders. Through observations of daily life—including rush hour, the absence of commercial advertising replaced by propaganda, glimpses of new construction and residential areas built for professionals, and participation in local leisure activities like bowling—the video attempts to provide insights into the highly controlled yet evolving urban environment. Interactions with guides and locals, though navigating strict filming rules, reveal surprising moments of friendliness and details about local commerce, online shopping, and payment methods, offering a nuanced perspective beyond common stereotypes, despite the inherent limitations of a state-managed visit.
Exploring Pyongyang: Rare Access and Unexpected Glimpses Inside North Korea
0:03 First Westerners in 5+ Years: The video documents a journey to Pyongyang, North Korea, claiming the visitors are the first Westerners to gain access to the capital in over five years, entering on April 3rd, 2025.
1:45 Entry Purpose: The visitors are not official tourists but enter presenting as "amateur athletes" participating in the Pyongyang Marathon, traveling with a sports delegation.
2:49 Unique Air Travel: The trip involves flying on Koryo Air, described as the world's only one-star airline, aboard an old Soviet Tupolev 204 aircraft from Beijing.
5:38 Filming Restrictions: Filming was restricted during the flight, with stewards actively preventing passengers from recording. This immediately established the need for caution regarding what could be filmed.
6:12 Strict Customs Process: Upon landing, the group underwent thorough passport and customs checks, including officials inspecting and logging electrical items and searching for politically sensitive or religious materials.
7:34 Initial City Observations: Driving from the airport during rush hour, the visitors noted the absence of advertising, replaced by propaganda posters and slogans (7:48), and observed more cars, including Western brands, than they expected (7:59).
8:49 Accommodation: The group stayed at a hotel located within the Pyongyang Sports Village. The room was described as notably dark, with only two working lights (10:29).
11:23 Visiting Key Monuments: The itinerary included visits to significant sites such as the large monument to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il (over 20m high at 13:11) (11:23), where buying flowers for respect is common (12:08). They also visited the Juche Tower (16:44) (symbolizing self-reliance) and the Party Foundation Monument (22:18).
13:50 Respect for Leaders: Guides and locals displayed immense respect for their leaders, described as treating them "essentially as gods" (13:55). Visitors are required to show respect at monuments, ensuring photos include the full statues (13:41).
16:22 Navigating Rules: Filming rules are strict, requiring cameras to be put away at checkpoints (20:47), and filming was prohibited from the top of the Juche Tower (19:31). The visitors felt a sense of tension and learned to follow instructions without questioning (20:47, 21:36).
23:53 Glimpses of Change: A discussion with a visitor who has been to North Korea over 100 times since 2007 highlighted changes like new buildings and the introduction of mobile phones with an internal internet network (~2009/10).
25:04 Challenging Stereotypes: The experienced visitor countered the misconception that North Koreans are robotic, describing them as everyday people (25:04).
26:05 Daily Life and Leisure: Observations included the main square with markings for parade positions (32:07), the National Library/Study House (26:36), and modern residential areas built for professionals (38:51). Leisure activities seen and experienced included bowling (33:53) and potentially a casino downstairs (36:32).
35:35 Unexpected Engagement: The bowling activity provided surprising opportunities for interaction and laughter with locals, offering more engagement than the visitors had anticipated in the controlled environment.
40:42 Friendliness of Locals: Contrary to expectations, people encountered on the streets were notably friendly, inquisitive, and willing to interact (40:42).
41:27 Insights into Commerce: Conversations provided details about local shops having consistent prices (42:14) with shopping based on preference (42:18), and the availability of online shopping with delivery and various payment methods including cash, card, and QR codes (42:32).
43:30 Trying Snake Wine: The day concluded with trying DPRK snake wine, a potent (60% alcohol) and unexpectedly out-of-date beverage.