How to Survive 3 Years in North Korea as a Foreigner
I spent three years living in North Korea as a foreigner, navigating strict surveillance and cultural isolation. This account details the daily challenges of maintaining safety while adhering to rigid local rules. From avoiding political missteps to managing interactions with authorities, survival required constant vigilance and careful adaptation to an unpredictable environment.
In North Korea, the most dangerous thing you can do is assume that the rules you know apply here.
- josefresco
Most interesting observation:
> When serving in Iraq or Iran, my biggest fear in those places was always the threat of physical harm, be it ambushes on our person or vehicles, being kidnapped, rocket or mortar attacks on our embassy or accommodation. There were close shaves and the threat and the fear never left you in all of these places.
But as far as life in North Korea was concerned, there were none of these fears. Serving in North Korea gave you this strange feeling of being cut off, isolated and very insular and perversely at the same time “safe.”
- rwmj
- runamuck
"North Korea’s border with South Korea is a disputed border as both countries claim the entirety of the Korean Peninsula." - I did not know South Korea felt this way!
- wowczarek
A diplomatic mission established for the sake of establishing it and staff making the best out of their time there I can somewhat understand, but not tourism into DPRK for the "curious" and leaving money in that state. Going there to play golf would feel like visiting Pol Pot's Cambodia because they have good forest hikes, just be careful not to slip on all the blood seeping out of the ground.
As to the lack of fear of physical harm, this was reported from a very privileged position where that safety was guaranteed by the clearly willing host. As a civilian visitor I wouldn't feel that confident. One odd look or an unfortunate question an official didn't take a liking to, will get you into questioning. So I'm told.
- mito88
- how is life in north korea?
- can't complain!