Although the North Korean regime is launching missiles, doing underground nuclear tests and continues to use threatening and warlike language, tourists are allowed into the country. Journalists are not welcome. However, a reporter from Radio Netherlands Worldwide entered North Korea with a tour group.
Tourists who visit the “workers’ paradise” enjoy little freedom of movement. We drove through the country in our own bus and stayed at beautiful hotels, but we had hardly any contact with the average North Korean. We had two guides who told us about their belief in North Korea's state ideology Juche and the struggle against United States imperialism.
The tour of North Korea only shows the very best of the workers’ paradise. All faults are attributed to the belligerent Americans who are doing their best to undermine North Korea by imposing sanctions. Fuel shortages, widespread poverty and hunger are a direct result of the policies of the US enemy.
A peace treaty has not been signed even though the Korean War ended in 1953, when a cease-fire went into effect. However, Pyongyang unilaterally withdrew from the armistice last month. The country has officially been at war since hostilities began in 1950. North Korea’s few friends and its enemies may be changing with the times. North Korea, which does not have internet or mobile phone connections, continues its lonely struggle as one of the world’s last Stalinist outposts.
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