North Korea is one of the most isolated nations in the world, so what's it really like to be a tourist there?
You might be surprised to learn that outsiders can visit North Korea. In fact, Kim Jong-un is pushing tourism, hoping to increase visits from the current 100,000 tourists a year to two million by 2020. As you might expect, tourism in North Korea is a unique experience and certainly not for everyone.
At present, the only way to officially tour North Korea is via one of the state-run tourism bureaus. Only guided tours are permitted (tourists do not wander on their own) and only certain cities can be visited. Visitors, like North Koreans, are constantly monitored while in the country and any photography or record of the stay will be tightly controlled. There is no right to privacy. There are occasional opportunities to mingle with some locals, which is a big reason why some people visit North Korea. Beyond learning about life there, some tourists hope their presence can help spread some word about the world beyond.
