15 Things You Should Know Before You Go to North Korea

[@CesarMCL]

Point 3 is totally true, avoiding "that" topic, you can talk about almost everything and they can give you value information about their culture, with my local guide we have talked a lot about food and he asked me a lot of question about my local cuisine, also we talked about football, trains, beers, etc, they are totally normal people, just differents.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

That's lovely to hear! And yes they are just normal people, but just living in different circumstances to most of us

[@jwaxmcgeeg9706]

Can I say... Death to communism?

[@elmirbratic1211]

Thank you for the information Zoey! Much love and support!.

[@lurkeroctopus1364]

Awesome video. I did like the unexpected, summed up our trip, but added to the fun of the trip!

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, it certainly does!

[@no9008]

I wandered off in Sinuiju, went inside a park when the rest of the group was doing something else. Here is what happened: I came across a wedding, was taken my picture with the groom and bride (yep, they wanted my picture, but I also asked them to do the same on my camera), everyone was super nice. Then maybe 15-20 minutes later my guide found me. I went with a chinese group and was the only westerner. Nothing was checked at the border and I had the best seat on the bus too.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Sounds like a really nice experience!

[@no9008]

@@ZoeDiscovers yes, but once we returned to Dandong I got somewhat sick. Not sure if it was the food or unrelated. in any case, I had a good time. And because I was not Chinese, I got an easygoing and friendly English speaking guide just for me. The biggest annoyance were members of the chinese group - chinese tourists have a bad rep even in the DPRK

[@ZoeDiscovers]

@@no9008 haha it's true

[@justawesome5945]

Thanks for the update Love to watch your videos Thank you for your hard work and dedication Stay well and stay safe Sincerely With AWESOME love from North America

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Thanks so much for the support! :) Stay well and safe too.

[@kriswolskinews]

So beautiful to watch it..

[@BudEpps]

1 thing i would ask for in your future videos. Please lessen the volume of your background music. It distracts from your voice. The music is fine as it adds to the experience, it just distracts. As an American I wish I could visit North 🇰🇵.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Thanks for the feedback! Sure thing I'll note that down.

[@stevehawkins8940]

Thank you. I think you show an amazing resilience and also wisdom in how you express yourself. I think I would struggle in such an automaton environment. When you consider that you "cannot walk around by yourself" in the country - it's a stunning statement - and actually quite awful and a reflection of the horrendous stringencies for North Koreans themselves - (obviously they can walk around themselves but I mean it's a signal of the intensity of the fear they must live under.) I guess the capital and "what you are shown" is very different to the starvation and suffering of many outside it.

[@draytonblackgrove]

Great video! Subbed.

[@peterlowe5960]

Hi Zoe, regarding the cash question, is there a ceiling amount you are actually allowed to carry with you over the border? Cheers

[@pammirandaa]

Thanks for more info! Love your nails 💅🏻

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Thank you!! 😊

[@introspectiver1787]

Very informative, thanks!

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Laura_Daniels]

Very informative!! It is certainly a great place to learn as we don't know much. But if they don't allow us to get out alone for a walk (which is allowed in almost every country) and are strict about cell phones and laptops, it is a hard place to visit even with all that curiosity. Also, if you can give a video on what makes NK unique compared to SK, that would be very helpful. Of course, there is the uniqueness that only very few people had visited there. Other than that, I assume the culture is the same compared to South Korea, and one can easily walk alone in the South, there are plenty of mountains and good roads and hotels in the South, and they don't care cell phones or laptops. Since you are an expert on the North, if you can talk about some interesting things the South doesn't have, that would be really interesting.

[@ChemjongVlogs]

Thank you for information are you visited in South Korea??

[@ZoeDiscovers]

yes!

[@Jon-wk3eu]

Is it difficult getting vegan food/meals there? And as a vegan myself I’m curious what sort of food can vegans eat in North Korea?

[@ZoeDiscovers]

There's almost definitely no vegans in North Korea. I know one vegetarian but she's quite flexible. Still quite rare in East Asia in general, including South Korea, North Korea is still far back when it comes to things like that, and also food shortages stop people from having the freedom to choose their diet etc. However, as a tourist you can be accommodated for as a vegan, there's actually quite a lot of veg and tofu - you just have to be aware that everyone will be sharing, so there is meat and fish on the table too, and also kimchi is not technically vegan, or vegetarian...

[@Jon-wk3eu]

@@ZoeDiscovers Thanks for the response! I did think that most people in the DPRK don’t really have the luxury or desire for any type of restrictive diets currently but I’m very glad to hear that they’re able to accommodate for vegan tourists! I hope they’ll safely be able to welcome foreigners back into the country soon. 😊

[@ZoeDiscovers]

@@Jon-wk3eu I hope so too!!

[@migaloo364]

Two questions: 1. Do most services in NK accept credit cards or do you need to bring in physical cash money? 2. Are VPNs legal over there for tourists or not?

[@ZoeDiscovers]

no credit cards, only chash! Not sure about the legality n VPNs but you rarely have internet there to use them..!

I love your balanced documentation of North Korea, there's so few people that don't fall into the patronizing westerner trope.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

thank you!

[@beljorge701]

what happend if i get sick during the tour inside North Korea?

[@ZoeDiscovers]

depends how ill, just like in any country, you go to a doctor or hospital

[@alwayschillingx]

So I’ve just had your channel recommended to me and I wanted to find out do you live and work in North Korea?

[@ZoeDiscovers]

I don't live there but usually I work there (it's closed at the moment though)

[@simonpilk]

Someone sounds slightly Northern from UK and I smiled when you said enough and pronounced it at ‘enoof’.. I am not planning to go to DPRK at the present but would not write it off. Would a UK person like myself for example be able to take say some Chocolate from another country and would it cause trouble if I were to give it to a local child or person as say a gift in saying hello. Just say a simple issue such as that.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Absolutely no issue :) It's always a good idea to talk to the guides so they can do this with you though, otherwise someone might think it a bit weird giving their child a chocolate bar on the street - imagine if you were approached like that in the UK! The guide can help translate your lovely gesture :)

[@ZoeDiscovers]

And yes - Liverpool ;) haha

[@simonpilk]

@@ZoeDiscovers oh dear poor you ;)

[@simonpilk]

@@ZoeDiscovers yes I agree that wasn’t worded very cleverly at all but I knew what I meant. I was thinking say a group of kids as opposed to just one. Say as a result of some interpreted idle conversation with them via an interpreter and maybe of game of football say as maybe that is a universal ‘language’

[@ZoeDiscovers]

@@simonpilk Then yes, absolutely no issue. Human exchanges like this are priceless.

[@t.s..]

9:53 walking around by yourself - not possible. In other words - this country DON'T WANT tourist. That's why first and most important thing I have to remember about travelling to NK - DO NOT TRAVEL there.

[@greekwarrior5373]

I'd rather die than going there. Im an orthodox christian. Millions of people imprisoned for three generations in that horrible dictatorship and then im supposed to 'have fun and eat abundantly"? Knowing that millions of people are suffering in that place???

[@fbi568]

i love you

[@hannahcat1338]

She's got me kinda hooked lol

[@dreaming9to5]

Wait what IS the difference between pins?

[@w7lves]

The pin with both Kim II sung and Kim Jong il is the highest of honors. I don't know the difference between the individual Kim Jong il and Kim Il sung pins.

[@ststst981]

Sounds perfectly reasonable, every country has customs that are considered rude and every country has laws. And considering the meddling that so many western countries have constantly tried to do in the DPRK it seems reasonable that they dont want you wandering alone

[@kieranstmarthe1093]

Also my partner is from south korea and he is very afraid of going to north korea despite the fact he has family and routes there, do you think he should be?

[@ZoeDiscovers]

No is ok for South Koreans to go if they have a different passport. They may have to fill out some extra information

[@johnq9643]

@@ZoeDiscovers are u sure it's safe ? What if he gets otto warmbier'd ?

[@summer7676]

@@johnq9643 Neither american government, and american health authorities has proof of torture,and they have also not claimed nor proven that his death was caused by North Korea.

[@johnq9643]

@@summer7676 yes they do dummy. Stop spreading propaganda

[@summer7676]

@@johnq9643 So show me one single statement where american government and american health authorities claimed that he was killed and tortured by North Korea.

[@kieranstmarthe1093]

Are there any betting shops in North korea or casinos, if not can i access them onine. Because i would like to bet on my trip

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Not online but there is one in Pyongyang and one in Rason

[@johnthefinn]

I've been looking through your videos for a hint of what *not* to bring to DPRK. I recall having bananas confiscated going into the USSR (to protect the vitally important Siberian banana industry, no doubt) and being required to declare such things as bibles. Are there restrictions on camera equipment, for example, and what kind of inspection can be expected on arrival?

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Yes definitely, you'll be briefed fully before you go in, but no bibles. Camera equipment generally OK - bananas no problem! I'll make a video some time :)

[@johnthefinn]

@@ZoeDiscovers I look forward to the video, as 'before going in' may be too late if I'm already on the border with dodgy items packed. One blog tells me long lenses are out, f'rinstance - and me a camera freak! I'd also appreciate details about how laptops and media (thumb drives etc.) may be inspected.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

@@johnthefinn All noted! In terms of lense size yes there is a limit - but also no border control goes round with a tape measure... ;)

[@mishapurser4439]

Always nice to see more vegan content creators ^V^

[@ZoeDiscovers]

hehe hey!

[@Pentelicus]

I would happily pay Koryo Tours extra for a missile launch.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

😂😂

[@ianmcdonagh9696]

I am Irish

[@ferozahmed5645]

I want to know Kim Yo Jong is married or not ?pls tell me

[@yepitsme3336]

I cannot imagine ever wanting to go visit NK. Why risk it?

[@LittleBigPoet]

Risk what? Turning on your TV and be bombarded by slander about their supposed warmongering?

[@chenchen579]

If I go there it's not because of north korea because I want to see you. ❤️

[@allhandlestaken]

Yeah ... Let's not mention prison camps ... Let's pretend they don't exist and just give the regime our money and ignore the poor captives often imprisoned for nothing FFS 😡

[@GrexFilms]

I'm thinking about moving to the DPRK. But no foreigner that lived there wanted to give my any tip

[@kieranstmarthe1093]

are there any a all you can eat resteratunts in north korea and if so what is the price

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Nope sorry!

[@catherinemartinez]

Hi, please talk more about the human rights issue in North Korea, thank you!

[@physics77guy]

why do you care.... let's talk about it in other countries too... what so special in North Korea??? don't politicize things

[@catherinemartinez]

@@physics77guy please read the book "In order to live" by Yeonmi Park. Have a nice day!

[@physics77guy]

@@catherinemartinez I don't need to as I am not international police. NK is a country with their own rules and way of running it like every country has. Also especially this girl yeonmi then no she is biased

[@tigerual]

Otto Frederick Warmbier. Remember him? Don't go to north Korea. That is only thing you should remember.

[@enthusiastisch1922]

Oh yeah I remember him, watch Alexander Cao de Beno’s video about him, he explains what he did.

[@derekmoody1358]

Dont eat meat dishes there unless you dig..... human

[@davidjamesshaver]

Please get some professional help, Derek.

[@derekmoody1358]

@@davidjamesshaver yea ok oh wise one. Mind your own biz

[@pinkpaws6209]

This video is kind of useless because nobody travels to North Korea.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

Well, they do tho.

[@ZoeDiscovers]

@John Wick I have a video on the ethics of travelling there if you're interested

[@enthusiastisch1922]

This video is kind of useless because nobody travels to Laos See what I did there?