The Politics of the DPRK Tour

Have you ever sought to discover beyond the hysteria and misconceptions of everyday media? Do you wish to learn about North Korea? Your time has come. This July you are invited to join Visit North Korea in our Political Insights Tour, an academic and analysis focused program which focuses on grasping an understanding of North Korea’s political system, the principles of the Juche Ideology, as well as the historical relationship between China and North Korea.

The tour diverges from classical itineraries of North Korea by combining popular sites with some unique experiences. Besides the usual thrills of the DMZ, we’ll be having a real discussion and Q&A session with an actual North Korean party cadre, where we will have the chance to ask questions about the Juche ideology and the country’s politics.

Additionally, we’ll be visiting the little known Chinese War Cemetery in Hoechang, where we can witness the grave of Chairman Mao’s son, Mao Anying, who died in the Korean War. Last but certainly not least, we won’t be missing out on some of the most popular sites around Pyongyang, including the local metro, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum and Juche Tower. For those who are already interested in our Red China Tour, the Politics of the DPRK tour makes the perfect extension. Dive deep into the world of 1950s and 1960s China & North Korea, discover how an alliance was forged in resistance to the United States and then reflect about its relevance today.

This is a premium quality tour available at a price of 995 euros. Payment is possible through either paypal or international bank transfer, beginning with a 30% deposit and the rest being brought on the day of the tour. For an additional fee, we can process your North Korean visa too, a straightforwards and uncomplicated process! If you’re looking for an amazing learning experience, this is a tour well worth considering!

Monday 6th July

• Meet your Visit North Korea guide and the rest of the group at 1:30pm at the Beijing Zhong Gu Hotel next to Beijing Railway Station. During this meeting, we’ll overview the trip itinerary, hand out DPRK visas and train tickets, as well as answer any questions you might have about the trip
• Unless you have opted for an Air Koryo flight, you'll be departing Beijing Central station at 5:25pm for the 24 hour sleeper ride to Pyongyang.

Tuesday 7th July

• Those on the overnight train will arrive at Dandong at 7am. You'll have a couple of hours to grab lunch before heading back into the station for Chinese customs and exit.
  The train for Pyongyang will depart at 10am
  Those flying to the DPRK will depart from Beijing Airport Terminal 2 on Air Koryo, we will meet at the airport check in counter!
  Those on the train will arrive at Pyongyang in the evening at 6.45 where the guides will meet you on the platform.
  We will commence our stay in the DPRK with dinner at a local restaurant on Ryomyong Street, a district opened in 2017 by Kim Jong un
  After dinner, we will check into the Sosan hotel

Wednesday 8th July

• Today is our Kaesong and DMZ day! A very early start as we've got a lot of ground to cover. Our first stop is the Koryo Museum- An ancient centre of learning at the heart of the ancient Koryo Dynasty. See old Korean artifacts, clothing, coinage and weaponry!
• Outside of the museum sits the Korea stamp stop! Stock up on your stamps, postcards, posters and other memorabilia here!
• Now it's time for the DMZ. First, we'll stop the Panmunjom Gift shop, where you will have another chance to buy hand painted propaganda posters and other assortments
• Our soldier guide, a real KPA officer, will then lead us into the DMZ. He will show us around Panmunjom village where the Armistice talks were held, as well as the signed document itself!
• Next he will take us through to the Joint Security Area, where North Korean, South Korean and American soldiers famously stand face off! Now, it is becoming a centre of peace and subsequently, relaxed in contrast to pass times, with Trump having met Kim Jong un here in 2019.

Afternoon

• Lunch at the Tongil Restaurant in Kaesong- try our traditional Korean Pansangi- a series of assorted dishes served in bronze bowls. (Optional extras- If you're feeling daring, there is Dog Soup at 5 euro! Or, you can even buy a share a ginseng chicken, apparently it's good for health
• We'll srop by Sariwon City (Capital of North Hwanghae province) to walk in the historic folklore park. We'll also have the chance to view the city from the mountaintop pagoda.
• Re-entering Pyongyang, we will stop at the the Monument to the Three Charters of National Reunification, otherwise known as "the Arch of Reunification"- longing for the day Korea is reunified
• Dinner at the KITC No.1 Restaurant. You can try famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles, Raenngmyeon, or the delicious traditional Korean rice dish, Bibimbap.
• Back to the hotel

Thursday 9th July

• We'll start the morning with a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, described as the "most sacred place in North Korea"- the palace is the final resting place of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong il. Formal attire is required for this site, as well as respectful behaviour.
• To start the day we'll head to Mansudae Fountain park where we can see mosaic pictures of President Kim Il Sung and the leader Kim Jong Il.
• We'll then head up to the nearby Mansudae Grand Hill Monument – the two large bronze statues of President Kim Il Sung and Leader Kim Jong Il overlooking the city. Here we will be kindly asked to pay our respects, flowers are optional if you wish.

Afternoon

• Delicious Korean hotpot for lunch!
• Fancy some shopping? We'll next be going to the Kwangbok department store, Pyongyang's largest and most popular supermarket. It is home to exclusive North Korean brands, where you can use real local korean won currency!
• Afterwards it's time for a ride on the Pyongyang Metro! We'll be going 6 stops before heading out to the Arch of Triumph- Like that in Paris, but bigger! This magnificent structure celebrates the victory over Japan and the liberation of Korea
• It's time to visit the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum – as North Korea tell their own story of the conflict between 1950-1953, you can see captured American weapons and vehicles, displays and dioramas from famous battles and much more!
• Outside the museum, all aboard the USS Pueblo – the only US Naval Vessel held captured by another country, seized off the coast of Wonsan in 1968!
• Now for Juche Tower- This stone column monument is the tallest of its kind in the world. It represents the eternally burning flame of the Juche ideology (Optional extra 5 euro to go to the top and see a panaromic view of all Pyongyang!
• After the Juche tower, we'll take a look at the China Korea Friendship Tower – situated on the Moran Hill this tower was built in the late 1950s to remember the Chinese assistance in the Korean War and the lasting alliance between the two socialist nations.
• Dinner at the Lamb BBQ restaurant
• Back to the hotel where we will join a discussion group with a local party official, he will host a discussion about politics and ideology in the DPRK and where we have the chance to ask questions and discuss local affairs with him.

Friday 10th July

• Early start again for the drive up to Hoechang County, here we will see the war cemetery where Chairman Mao’s son, Mao Anying, is buried. Get ready for the bumpy roads and take a glimpse at the North Korea which is far removed from Pyongyang
  Lunch at the Hoechang Hotel

Afternoon

• Next is the cemetery for Chinese Soldiers in the Korean War. Here, hundreds of soldiers who served in the Chinese People's Volunteer Army are buried here. It is expected for top Chinese delegations to pay their respects at this site. Here we will be able to see some more murals and works representing the Chinese contribution to the Korean War
• Visit Mao Anying's grave, the son of Mao Zedong who died in the war
• Drive to the site of the wartime headquarters of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army in North Korea
• After seeing the cemetery, it's time to head back to Pyongyang where we will have dinner.
  We'll have the chance to visit a local amusement park, the Kaeson Youth Park and try out some fun local rides (fee for each 2 euros!)
• Back to the hotel

Saturday 11th July

• Those flying out will depart Pyongyang at 9:00am on Air Koryo, arriving in Beijing at 9:55am local time.
• For those taking the train, we will depart at 10:25am for Beijing. The train will head back to Sinuiju for customs and then back into Dandong, before heading onwards overnight to China's capital, ending the tour on Sunday 12th!

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