In this exciting episode of The Young Pioneer Podcast, we discuss the life of Monica Macias, author of “Black Girl from Pyongyang.” As the daughter of Francisco Macías, the first president of Equatorial Guinea, Monica’s journey began when she was sent to North Korea for her education. There, she received personal guidance from President Kim […]

Is Rason boring? My unwavering answer to this is that no, it is not boring. In fact, if you have any interest in the DPRK, then it is an essential place to visit. It is, though, not Pyongyang, not for everyone, and somewhere that you have to seriously manage your expectations. And I am writing […]

Prior to the closure of North Korea due to Covid-19, the birthday of Kim Jong Il was one of the most important holidays for tourists to visit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Alas, this all changed when the country closed due to the pandemic over 5 years ago. This year, though, through some major […]

While we did not stay here (this time), we spent a lot of time at the Namsan Hotel in Rason during our recent business trip to the country. Why did we spend so much time here, and why is it so iconic? All of that and more in our Namsan Hotel Guide. Hotels in Rason […]

After an extremely early start to the day, years of hard work paid off as YPT became quite the first western tourist group to enter the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since it closed due toCovid 19 over 5 years ago now. Until just a few days ago, this trip had been hanging in the […]

With the exciting news of the Rason Special Economic Zone of North Korea reopening to tourists, the country’s tourism is steadily getting back on track. Currently, for non-Russian travellers, the Quanhe – Wonjong border in Yanbian, China, is the only gateway to Rason. LOCATION AND APPEARANCE OF THE QUANHE – WONJONG BORDER The Quanhe – […]

If you travel to North Korea, there’s one statement you’ll definitely hear: the Korean nation has a 5,000-year history. Ever wondered where this 5,000-year timeline begins? In this blog, we’ll dive into the foundation myth of Korea’s first kingdom and provide a comprehensive guide to the Tomb of King Tangun in Pyongyang. Who is King […]

When people think about North Korea, they usually focus on its politics, its leader, or its nuclear weapons. But one of the most commonly searched questions on the internet is surprisingly simple: how big is North Korea? Well, let’s dive into the geography of the DPRK and see how it compares to its southern neighbour, […]

Russia-DPRK relations are often overshadowed by Pyongyang’s ties with China, but the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang is long-standing and, at times, surprisingly resilient. While not always at the forefront of geopolitics, Russia has played an essential role in shaping North Korea’s past and present. North Korea was essentially born from the Soviet Union. In […]

Since the 1990s, North Korea has periodically attempted to bolster its economy through the creation of special economic zones (SEZs). These zones are designed to attract foreign investment and foster economic growth by offering a more flexible business environment. However, outside of those established in cooperation with South Korea, North Korean SEZs have largely struggled […]