Introduction to Children’s Palace The Mangyongdae School Children’s Palace also known as the Mangyongdae Children’s Palace, is North Korea’s largest education facility for children where students from elementary school through to high school engage in extra-curricular activities. Kim Il Sung, the first leader of North Korea said “children are the kings of the country” and […]

When I tell people that I work in North Korea, more often than not they hit me with ‘facts’ about North Korea. One that comes up a lot is “did you know that weed is legal in North Korea?” Long story short: Pyongyang is unlikely to become the next Amsterdam anytime soon. Is weed legal […]

Understand Pyongyang The Pyongyang Guide. As regular visitors to the DPRK we know a thing, or two about the capital city. Here is our Ultimate Pyongyang Guide. Pyongyang – also spelled P’yŏngyang or Pyeongyang – is the capital city of North Korea, and like most capital cities, is the political and economic centre of the […]

Assuming you’ve never lived (A) in any socialist countries or (B) during the Zimbabwean hyperinflation crisis, then money is a very simple thing. You to work, you get paid at the end of the month, and you blow it all in two weeks. You then live off beans and toast for the last two weeks […]

Are there North Korean beaches? When you think about travelling to North Korea, you probably imagine a whole lot of communism, propaganda, and all the monuments you can bow at. But North Korea actually has a lot more going on, and one of those things is its wonderful beaches! Beaches that are, in fact, so […]

North Korea Mass Games 2019 — “People’s Country” — confirmed! Mass Games 2019 have been confirmed! We have just got some exciting news from our partners in Pyongyang that the Mass Games will be starting in late June this year and running all the way through October, giving everyone that comes to Pyongyang during the […]

Kimchaek, formerly known as Songjin, was named for a legendary Korean People’s Army (KPA) general in 1951 at the height of the Korean War. There are around 200,000 people that call Kimchaek home, and it is one of three cities found in North Hamgyong province (the other two being Chongjin and Hoeryong – the birthplace […]

Who is the North Korean head of state? When I was younger I had a political awakening: I remember asking my father about heads of state, in particular the Queen of England, whom I observed had no actual power. When I asked why a country needed one, my dad said something along the lines of […]

The Chollima 천리마동상 Statue is one of immense national and historical significance to the people of the DPRK. On Mansu Hill in central Pyongyang, you will find a 46 metre-tall monument depicting a horse dashing into battle. It certainly gives one feelings of a strong and powerful animal, but the history and, indeed, the significance […]

Yes, you read that right! WiFi in North Korea. One of Pyongyang’s fanciest hotels: the Pottonggang Hotel has recently installed WiFi in its lobby café. Naturally, we had to check it out on our recent 10-day May Day tour in Pyongyang. So how does it work? At 10 RMB for 10 minutes, you’ll get a […]