Ask Away: A trip into North Korea

The only way to enter North Korea is as part of an organised tour. Photo / Getty Images

Hi there,
I'm travelling to Seoul in mid-October and am interested in a day trip to Pyongyang.
Are there any travel agents in Auckland that I could organise this through??
What advice/experience can you offer for a trip to North Korea??
Thanks,
Justin S

Hi Justin,

Bad news I am afraid - North Korea is impossible to access from South Korea. Tourists can take the plane to Pyongyang from Beijing, Shenyang, Shanghai and Vladivostok, and train services to Pyongyang from Beijing, Dandong and Moscow.

All tourism to North Korea is organised by one of several state-owned tourism bureaus, including Korea International Travel Company (KITC), which is the bureau most likely to consider your visit.

There are only a few private tour operators worldwide who can be relied upon to consistently leap the necessary hurdles to provide access to North Korea. These include Koryo Tours (known for its strong history in the region); Uri Tours (known for its role in Dennis Rodman's trips to North Korea); Lupine Travel; Juche Travel Services; KTG and Young Pioneer Tours.

To enter North Korea, most visitors will arrive from China and must have a visa. This must be obtained prior to arrival - your tour operator will apply on your behalf.

A North Korean tourist visa allows you to stay in North Korea for up to 6 months after the date of issue. It generally takes up to four weeks for the visa to be granted. Your North Korean visa is always a separate piece of paper and is called a Tourist Card. Your passport won't be stamped on entry or exit of the country.

Mark Thomas is a young New Zealander who has written a great account of his adventures in North Korea. Give him a Google before you set off and be sure to read up on expected behaviour once you are in the secretive nation. There are tourists who are paying for their stupidity in North Korea after being sentenced to labour camps.

Finally, I strongly encourage you to find a travel insurer. Some tour operators might organise this for you, but in case they do not, research carefully. You may not have access to medical care and other essential services while in North Korea.