North Korean Motorcycle Diaries

For the past decade, New Zealanders Joanne and Gareth Morgan have been living the semiretired lifestyle of their dreams, traveling around the world on motorcycles alongside a few of their closest friends. They've traversed all seven continents on their bikes, with routes as varied as Venice to Beijing, Florida to northern Alaska, and South Africa to London, just to name a few. Gareth funds his own trips, many of which he uses to pursue philanthropic endeavors, particularly in the social-investment space. He is able to do so with money he's made as an economist and investment manager-one who has earned the reputation for criticizing unethical practices in New Zealand's financial-services industry.
In late August, the Morgans embarked on their most ambitious journey yet, at least physically. The real journey began years ago, when they decided they wanted to ride the Baekdudaegan, a mountain range that stretches the length of North and South Korea's shared peninsula. After countless hours of negotiation and coordination with both governments, they were granted permission. It was, the Morgans believe, the first time anyone's ever traveled through both countries like that since the partitioning of Korea in 1945. By making the trip they hoped to demonstrate how Koreans can come together over what they have in common. To symbolize this, the Morgans took some stones from Paektu, a holy mountain in the North, and brought them to Hallasan, a similarly sacred peak in the South.
Joanne and Gareth shot the entirety of their trip, the footage from which they have graciously allowed us to cut into a short film that will premiere on VICE.com this month. In some ways, the footage makes the Korean coast look alternately like California, China, and Cuba. It's a beautiful view few foreigners have seen, and even if planning the road trip straight through the Demilitarized Zone required working within parameters set by the highly choreographed and restricted confines of North-South Korean diplomacy, this was a journey worth documenting from start to finish.
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[@robanderson1470]

I would love to see 5 North Koreans bike through New Zealand.

[@robanderson1470]

Western Decadence

[@ishant666]

you'll probably ignore them like any other Asian in New Zealand 😂😂

[@MrKelsomatic]

Their families would be executed before they finished.

[@kevingunawan4869]

And make a KZbin video with title "Journey(spying) in western land"

[@qimengzhang2836]

I'm a Chinese student in Auckland uni and we DO have a North Korean student here lol

[@kiminthemix4251]

This is by far the best footages i've seen of North Korea

[@royhunt2369]

Kim In The Mix the beach wasn’t staged not at all

[@t5grrr]

All staged

[@user-fs4xf3dh4b]

Is the land of a North Korean dictator

[@Randomizer92mx]

@@t5grrr nature was not staged through

[@astralconjurer2340]

Same like others, having good side and bad side. Not down too far to negative thinking.

[@dlrpanjsi783]

I'm Korean and I'm very amazed about your trip. You've gone through places where even the south korean president can hardly visit. First of all, extremely limited people can cross the south-north korean border on road. Second, the fact that you went to mount Baekdu is absolutely amazing. That mountain is a symbol of all koreans' peace. In 2018(I think) the south korean president Moon Jae In got a chance to visit the mountain because he said it was his dream to visit there. Being able to visit that place is so rare.

[@robert1200]

The fact that they were allowed to cross the DMZ is very surprising, think of how few people get to do that.

[@RottenFlesh-we6nu]

But they are from New Zealand though, And new Zealand isnt very hated by anyone really

[@user-wz5ud4mn4y]

i love your leader kim

[@treesmoveslowly]

You know that south koreans can go to china and visit from the chinese side, the mountain's literally on the border of north korea and china

[@oxanda7687]

When you strip away all the politics and religion, people are just people. At the end of the day they want something good to eat, surrounded by people they love, enjoying the things they have.

[@kostyapolykova9879]

you are ignorant

[@AlxzAlec]

Kostya Polykova you have gay

[@tylernol4838]

@@kostyapolykova9879 you have gay

[@yours.trulie]

@@kostyapolykova9879 you have gay

[@joshuanicely8722]

Absolutely, we are, in general, all just trying to get through life the best that we can. Taking care of ourselves and the ones we love is our priority. Across the world we aren't so different.

[@jaykerouac2]

Too bad they didn't visit the concentration camps, where the guards are trained to treat political prisoners as sub-humans, and they are subject to torture and inhumane treatment. Public and secret executions of prisoners, even children, especially in cases of attempted escape are commonplace. Infanticides (and infant killings upon birth) also often occur. The mortality rate is very high, because many prisoners die of starvation, illnesses, work accidents, or torture.

[@jeffersonclippership2588]

Alex Korova Because the government is totally people in...

[@jaykerouac2]

Cornelius Funk You said, _"Because the government is totally people in....."_ Excuse me while I look for my Gibberish to English dictionary.

[@fmcra]

Alex Korova maybe Guantanamo is more appropriated to that visit, because they could talk in their mother tongue, English :D

[@jaykerouac2]

fmcra Nice try, comrade ;)

[@jhk7694]

Alex Korova They also cut off people's fingers or feed them to hunting dogs if they make the tiniest mistake. Copy and paste this word 북한 수용소

[@cholosocks]

15:46 "to kiwis and kimchis" that was actually such a good toast lol

[@360Fov]

i love that lol

[@qwqwqwqw407]

Me too I love this haha

[@JanusCCXVIII]

But how's that? China claims that Kimchi is THEIRS??

[@qwqwqwqw407]

@@JanusCCXVIII Yes. They did. They tag 'China traditional food Kimchi' It sucks Bruhh

[@The_Gamer_DaD]

how is it possible ive missed this documentary on North Korea since 2013 ?! This is seriously one of the best ive seen so far. Very good job.

[@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS]

My dads Dutch and has the same name as you 😆

[@The_Gamer_DaD]

@@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS used to be a common name. Think im one of the last Jan's haha. Do not hear this name very often anynore with younger people.

[@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS]

@@The_Gamer_DaD I live in Scotland so I never really hear the name often but my grandad was also called jan too

[@The_Gamer_DaD]

@@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS my dad is called jan and my granddad was called jan too haha. I have 3 boys but my wife didnt want me too name 1 of them jan haha. Kinda sux to break the line, but mayby im lucky to ever have a grand child called Jan 😂

[@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS]

@@The_Gamer_DaD that’s cool to hear 😂who knows how many other jans there are

[@darrenalexander5993]

13:33 "That concrete boundary is 10 cm tall and 5 cm wide, but it divides 70 million koreans." Holy shit.

[@yunkillubeats]

Berlin wall 2

[@blackhat2005]

Walls work

[@da4127]

well technically what divides them are the huge amount of soldiers standing at both sides staring at each other, but this doesn't sound as poetic

[@VicodinElmo]

Wow. Just wow. These comments. Just goes to show how one video can blind people to the extent that they can't see the woods from the trees. Yes, no doubt North Koreans as individuals are pleasant and just like any normal people on the planet, but please don't lull yourself into thinking this country is a nice place to live where your rights will be respected. There's a very good reason these people were escorted every step of the way. Their experience was totally shaped by where their "tour guides" wanted them to go and what they wanted them to see. Of course they wouldn't willingly take them past a fucking Gulag or a starving village.

[@xPokemonPlayerx]

+Lucas Williams ILY.

[@kokeshkokesh]

+1

[@2011blueman]

+Lucas Williams North Korea is similar to Saudi Arabia in terms of "nice places to live where your rights will be respected". The difference being that Saudi Arabia isn't subject to sanctions because they have oil.

[@annamelissa607]

+Lucas Williams midea play has being doing from all country in this world to spread their propaganda ,the USA and russia has made alot video and movie that are no difference as well as this kim jong un is a nice guy video

[@WaaDoku]

+Lucas Williams So you've been to these places in North Korea?

[@vicrattlehead7622]

My dad and mother were alive for the fall of the Berlin Wall. I hope that I'm alive for the fall of the DMZ.

[@Candy_Gal]

Sir Francis Of the Filth I hope one day the people of North Korea will be free. The way they are treated and constantly bombarded with brainwashing propaganda on the daily is so sad.

[@aeternavictrix7861]

Isaiah Kyuga different situation u fucking idiot, y’all must be trolls

[@jumustube]

I hope that I am alive for the fall of TMZ.

[@fishcereal9940]

Tf are these replies, why don't you go to a Communist/Juche country and try it out for yourself instead of privileging in a free country where you're allowed to say your own opinion without being put in a labour camp for 10 years. Absolute lunatics.

[@gubadagoober]

@@qh5163 well you are wrong

[@anthonyknighton5767]

I can’t believe that they let them do that

[@dividednations44]

There's lots of freedom of travel and relaxed tourism rules in NK. But that doesn't fit with the narrative and propaganda the media has been pushing for the last couple decades.

[@appelmint4679]

They got escorted through their trip

[@anthonyknighton5767]

They also had to clear their travel plans months in advance. Perhaps it’s not as restricted as the west portrays it, but I would not call it “relaxed”.

[@azeron_1132]

@@dividednations44 still heavily controlled. Only show you what they want you to see with 24/7 guides following you

[@kybravo3744]

@@anthonyknighton5767 have you seen the documentary made by the people?

[@TheDaggwood]

"They know how to manage the land. There is a lot to learn from them." So refreshing to have a focus on the positive rather than pick them apart for the bad.

[@GlatHjerne]

lets just ignore the mass starvation and concentration camps because pretty nature 🥰🤗

[@TheDaggwood]

@@GlatHjerne They didn't exactly ignore the camps...

[@nem6262]

@@GlatHjerne there r always good things to look at, i don’t disagree the ppl there r living in one of the worst condition, but your way of picking at the bad things (that tbh every slighty informed would know of) is exactly why the internet is so toxic as it is

[@christianmorales8978]

Really so you call the fact that the farmers can’t even eat what they produce because it has to be redistributed good management? You do know if a North Korean farmer is starving to death and eats his own crops without consent from the state (which rarely ever comes) they’ll be executed right?

[@TheDaggwood]

@@christianmorales8978 Not what I said at all. Try again.

[@rz6111]

It's amazing to see the contrast between the North and South Korean culture near the end. Totally different environments, clothing, music, cities, but the people of both were largely the same; willing to host guests, have a good time, and enjoy their country. Also, amazing cinematography around the Mount Paektu. Definitely one of my favorite North Korean VICE videos.

[@isiahfriedlander5559]

Kennedy: We choose to go to the MOON not because it’s easy, but because it’s HARD... Mid life crisis gang: Hold my beer...

[@TankManHeavy]

Just spat my coffee out reading this. "Mid life crisis gang" lmaooo

[@shizi]

Mid-life crisis gang 😂😂

[@leosouzanet]

Oh my God. Lol

[@edgarmaestre6622]

Lmao

[@rinoamenna]

"ive got big knockers" lmao i love the biker lady

[@JamesChessman]

Sorry but it's disturbing to hear an elderly lady saying that, now I feel like I'm about 90 years old after watching this, with an elderly wife talking about her "knockers," I'm going to puke lol

[@loveforeva12]

@@JamesChessman it’s just a natural part of human anatomy what’s so disturbing mate

[@JamesChessman]

@@loveforeva12 What's disturbing is old ladies bragging about their "big knockers" lol

[@Orinap]

@@JamesChessman your mentality is disturbing bro.

[@natanvanhelden385]

@@JamesChessman Dude, she was just having a laugh

[@rosjsjdbf901]

Vice in 2013: Hey we make good shit and post it. Vice in 2020: Hey we have a hotline...

[@Asukol]

Vice has always had a mix of hard journalism and lighter, less relevant/interesting content. If you don’t believe me just go to their videos and sort by Oldest.

[@timo8165]

Vice 2021: weed and LGBTQ.

[@RegulareoldNorseBoy]

@@timo8165 Vice has always been very pro-weed and has always been very left leaning

[@cowholy3031]

@@RegulareoldNorseBoy Including fabricating fake news?

[@tx4runner459]

“To Kiwis and Kimchi’s”

[@lourier3]

Lol commented the exact same.

[@kevingunawan4869]

I thought he was said cheese lol...

[@antonironstag5085]

A very human moment there

[@richardbuan5519]

They started in the Vodkas😂

[@Judsonp14]

Cracked me up!

[@jeepy8067]

11:47 wow their fountains even flow backwards!

[@zazarays]

lmao. Nice catch. Why even edit it backward tho

[@susika2226]

Pancakebut its a cinematic thing, they wanted right to left because it looked better than left to right

[@mjodr]

@@susika2226 Precisely.

[@Doschia]

We can lern so much from the North Koreans

[@tulongpham6002]

Hello,vous traduisez au la lanlage Vietnamese,quelle nation:USA-UNSC-UN-UNESCO-BHUTAN-CHINA_Tap can Binh&family-...,je ne connaisse pas!Okay!Je souhaite mon/ma ami/amie Jeepy&mes familles-tes parents ho TỘC(Vietnamese-BÁC[19/5/1890-1/9/1969 au lang Ha noi]-NGUYEN PHU TRONG&famille) tree2s gaies=funs-plusieurs bonheurs=happys-des bon famille.Aurevoir=good bye=TAM-VĨNH BIET comme Van bai lat ngua-NOI GIO=LE VENT-Vi tuyen 17 ngay=day et la nuit-ÂM TÍNH-hoa hau THU MINH=MAI PHUONG THUY?-LE DUAN-PHAM VAN ĐONG-THANH NIÊN-INTERPOL-Chef police TO LAM-cha TO QUYEN-la mere...anh chi em ba con ho TÔC... Un peuple au ward 11,district Go vap-BÁC như trên city=ville ancien est=is SAIGON GIA DINh nam 1698 nay 2019-1698=321 years-321+n annees...

[@aldrinsangma5363]

Old guy at 5:54 have uncountable stars in his shoulder, yet he is in traffic duty😀

[@j800q]

Most likely the guy who was in charge of checking them.

[@spaghettibird5135]

Dudes like a general or something but yeah I guess there’s not much to do lol

[@majharsoren2975]

This doc completed my search for some internal images of countryside North Korea, I love you Vice❤️

[@TheZach941129]

Many people in South Korea don't want to unite with NK anymore because the cultural, technical, financial and even language gap is too big. If the two Korea unite, that means all the tax money from south korea has to go into basically rebuilding NK from rock bottom.

[@TheZach941129]

***** I understand your point. Yet, as a young South Korean myself, I don't only see the economical side but cultural side as well. I will give you and example. Older generations consider North Korea as a same country as South Korea because they were always constantly taught at school that unification is a good thing and were even taught a song called "unification is our wish." However, recently, the government took out the song from the textbook because it is forcing young kids to think that unification only positive which is clearly not the case. Young generation in South Korea, including myself, don't necessarily consider North Korea and South Korea as a single nation. Also, you have to understand that South Korea use to be a very homogeneous society until recently. Many people still do not accept other cultures rooting in South Korea. Many of them are sadly very racist and pre judgmental towards people from developing countries and I am afraid that mentality will create a barrier between two cultures. Even today, many South Koreans do not welcome refugees from North Korea because the government is using their tax money to help "potential NK government spies."

[@TheZach941129]

I agree that unification will bring more advantages than disadvantages in a long run. However, unification through war is going to devastate both sides short term and long term. From what we have seen so far, I don't think there will be any peaceful unification for a while. Also, I dont think your first argument makes sense. The N Koreans who settled in SK successfully was able to do that because back then NK was way more advanced that South Korea just after the war. They were better off than South Koreans in technology and economy. Furthermore, before the war, it was always one country so that generation did not have cultural barriers since it was all under the Japanese regime anyways. Now, the generation of people born between the 60s and present time in NK have never been exposed to the rest of the world, which means they have a lot of catching up to do in terms of education. Thus, I think unless unification comes in peace, it is better not to unify. Also, If there was a peaceful unification, the government should give it some time and support them technologically, economically and culturally first before opening borders. If they don't do this, Seoul is going to be the concentration of finance, population, which is already a very huge problem in S Korea.

[@piccoxpy7579]

Yes, you might be right that S.K. people don't want be unified with N.K. because of economical effect on the South if they become one country one day but, I don't think there are cultural difference and language gap between two countries. First of all, both South and North people speak Korea. It just depends on region, people's accent are different in two countries and it's also true that majority of korean people love eating korean foods such rice, kimchi, various dishes and soup in daily base. Secondly, you roughly mentioned to worry about the tax that is to spend on rebuilding the N.K. foundation or re-establishment... from my point of view, the narrow mind is to bring you negative impact on other N.K. people who are the same as your appearance. What's more, this opinion give a long way unified country, S.K. has just been over 30 years economic history after WW2 so my advice is to let you read more about political,economic or history books to broadern horizons. countries like USA, Canada, UK and China ...have been through a lot problems for decades but those govers don't even try to divide or split into different countries. why?? To read or research if you want to, based on that what is the advantage for new generation of Korean people and us.

[@KuopassaTv]

+Yu M Unification could happen later than sooner, I think, like it happened when East Germany and West Germany joined together. During that time West was economically more advanced and East lagged behind, but look at Germany today...

[@piccoxpy7579]

+kuopassa You bring here a good example of German's unification as Korean people usually talk about the 1990's process in the public debate but, this example is just similar, not the same if you see the political background in Korea. Geographically and politically, Korea is located in a complicated position...like a dot in the middle of isosceles triangle.. which means that it depends on the United and Russian,China political situation, Korean's unification will come sooner or later.

[@Bidmartinlo]

I see a country that could easily stand on it's two feet with sane leaders and less corruption.

[@1guyin10]

***** Absolutely. Just look what South Korea has become. There is no reason that the North couldn't do the same except for their government.

[@TheKyGuy]

***** I think I can agree with that. North Korea looks like it has the resources to be successful economically. Too bad the government is screwed up.

[@oO_ox_O]

1guyin10 I think it would need a generation for that though, so add 25 years.

[@GBXS]

davisoneill Said in 2015... You really know a lot about politics and such ahahahahaahauhauhauahauhauha

[@ciaranprice6378]

yup they need another revolution

[@jasonkang5030]

Thanks for recording this documentary. As a Korean, I didn't even know that this kind of travel is possible in North Korea. I used to ride the bike in South Korea, and I really hope I can ride in the North Korea someday soon.

[@DH-ib9xc]

its not sadly maybe one day tho

[@rankingresearchdata]

I'm first time watching rural area of North Korea 🇰🇵 and it's beautiful. This video helpful to clear my stereotypes about NK. Thank you vice media. Regard from India🇮🇳

[@turkey4957]

I mean it’s physically beautiful but that doesn’t change how awful and depressed and freaky of a country it is

[@onanysundrymule3144]

​@@turkey4957 Alas everything you have been told (or heard) about North Korea is simply to draw your attention away from the American backed Jeju island massacres, or the Bodo league massacres - in the South, let alone the shear barbarous and colonialist nature of the Western fueled Korean war itself.

[@nickpark9888]

That's the attitude we need more from those looking on from outside: a truly understanding and compassionate heart to understand the fiber of the Korean people without associating it with things that have nothing to do with their shared blood, their shared 5000 year history. Those people from New Zealand didn't have hostility in their spirit, but a spirit of understanding and love and it seemed like they ended up wanting unification just as much as Koreans.

[@nickpark9888]

Badass Biker I don't personally have that attitude because, across the board, Koreans all over the country are educated and intelligent and possess a type of spiritual insight whose only barrier is the tradition of Confucianism. It would be quite patronizing and incorrect to say that the west is more educated and developed, because they really are not. In terms of moral cultivation and discipline, Korean people are not at all deficient. I'm not talking about the faults of the leadership, I'm talking about the average Korean themselves. Plus, North Korean leadership has done many positive things for its people over the years which western people never hear about or investigate. They're capable of helping themselves, they don't need patronizing, condescending intervention. They get by without foreign aid, but just barely. Their food shortages are more geographic and attributable to the fact that Korea is 75% mountainous and is subject to monsoons and floods as well as being frozen for 5 months of the year. I don't disagree with the sacrifice of food rations going to the military first, because the USA and South Korea pose a serious threat to the existence of north korea and Korea in general. When North Korean leadership makes threats, they're not at all serious and they're just used for the purpose of getting attention for further negotiations. If you know historical fact outside of what the media and the school system tells you, you'll know that North Korea has been the recipient of far more threats than it has dished out, mainly from the USA, who's threatened to use nukes in Korea when North Korea didn't even have nukes, which is in violation of the Non Proliferation Treaty of which the USA was a part. North Korea has sued for a peace treaty with the USA and SK that ends the armistice of the Korean War, and on four occasions it has proposed to give up its nuclear weapons development as long as the USA and SK stopped making threats. It was the USA and SK which refused to agree to any treaty terms and continued to be aggressive in their policy and military exercises. This is unbiased fact from a Korean who is not from North Korea. It seems like most people think that what I'm saying must be said by someone in the north. However, this is not the case, and there are a few handful of westerners that know that what I say is true, but that number is growing.

[@nickpark9888]

Badass Biker I wasn't insulting you. I apologize if it came off that way.

[@MadJackChurchill1312]

Beautifully said 박동무

[@johnzhang4149]

It's just like 70's China

[@Tonyx.yt.]

except chinese don't get shot to try to leave china, even in the 50's or 60's

[@kiturselassie813]

Actually beautiful country ..tho it looks very cold

[@shengzeliang9731]

Nikolai Ivar Østerbø Not really, massive Chinese emigration during the chaotic 60s and 70s

[@TheThomas3110]

just like todays china too

[@kerryxu119]

​@@shengzeliang9731 When you say emigration, you mean people trying to swim over from Shenzhen to Hong Kong or Macau, who might be found at any moment and shot? The emigration of young Chinese to the West started only with Deng Xiaoping's reforms in the 80s.

[@badledgend1172]

"Both sides want peace, so what's stopping them?" Honestly, like one dude.

[@BorossAngkor]

The west stopping them.

[@shaiqbutt7871]

Not just one dude also the top military generals that want to exploit the people of NK.

[@clydefrog90]

Re-education camp for you

[@remembertotakeshowerspleas355]

And the millions of other dudes willing to kill and die to keep him in power.

[@pfw4568]

Honestly? America and China. They need a Korean Unification. Without foreign influence. Just a true Korean one. For Korean people and their blood.

[@jong2001]

I think the people on the beach are the happiest people I've seen in north korean footage

[@victorchen9128]

I wonder why these people from Vice were treated differently than the other documentary from rice.

[@yaowu2683]

Budder Teets because they are not vice staffs. Gareth is a kiwi entrepreneur

[@CrazyVidGamer]

+Budder Teets Because the vice presenters were 'murican probably?

[@jiuzhouqingyantiaoshizhuang]

+Budder Teets because they are not punks.

[@thingamabitch]

Because they were polite and probably knew more stuff about North Korea? Those videos are years apart from each other. And they were also not Americans, lol.

[@null-1]

2:23 Oi, you! No cameras!😂

[@omachi5931]

This is the happiest footage of NK that i've ever seen in my life, and im still wondering if those reactions are genuine or not

[@AlohaBiatch]

When you live a boring life working in a farm all the time, cut off from the rest of the world. Surely having an unexpected day where some random crazy white people come visit you is quite fun. They may still be living a terrible life under a terrible regime, but the novelty of a strange day like that would be the same.

[@ayoutubecommenter1827]

Everything in a communist country is scripted.

[@TillyOrifice]

@@ayoutubecommenter1827 That just can't be done.

[@Bruh-hq1hx]

Well since they probably weren't unsupervided (secretly or unsecretly) propably not all encounters were with actual people living there or people saying what they want to say

[@sooryan_1018]

@@ayoutubecommenter1827 Wow where's my scripted A+ grades and a PS5 then

[@Mantequilla-nr8zk]

In the end North Koreans are people just like us and I hope in my lifetime the two koreas unite under one flag and peace can prevail

[@china6586]

yes

[@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS]

They seem like such happy people it’s a shame they are put under so many rules

[@Hetzerg]

@@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS they are. But when they want to leave nk you can see the faces of the north koreans look sad.

[@cykablyat5910]

*DAMN THAT BEACH MORE SCRIPTED THAN ICE POSIEDON CONTENT*

[@SammyHannat]

This is how entitled white people are.

[@corriblehunt4554]

@@SammyHannat Do you even know what that's supposed to mean?

[@SammyHannat]

@@corriblehunt4554 yeah. White people think they're so fucking great that a whole country puts their affairs on hold just to please them. Get a life

[@corriblehunt4554]

@@SammyHannat Hey, you're the one making racist remarks and casting opinions on a KZbin comment section. Who needs a life?

[@SammyHannat]

@@corriblehunt4554 lmao if you think that's racist you should go outside some time

[@recalcitrist1]

The best part is.....no traffic jams! Only one person in a thousand can afford a car or motorcycle.

[@faustus5481]

***** That many?

[@WufanGohan]

With the first world economy grinding to a halt, this is no different. You probably would take up cycling and jogging too.

[@jwenting]

+Faustus seems a reasonable number. Though afford is the wrong word, be allowed is more like it. And another massive problem would be getting gas...

[@isakfredriksson5782]

Only politicians and the army are allowed to own vehicles.

[@CobraRedstone]

+recalcitrist1 What do you mean afford? Those kinds of items are issued to people depending on the current stocks and position of said person. Not bought or sold

[@mintoure4]

Its hard to acknowledge that the vip treatment ends when you cross that gate.

[@AidanHomewood]

That's not even true - the scene at the end in South Korea was a man toasting to New Zealand!

[@bobobo7470]

People call it surveillance, not VIP treatment

[@SloMo2723]

I cried when I saw the fall of the Berlin Wall! Live there many years and didn't think I'd ever see Germany become one! Would love to see Korea become one country! The Korean's I've met are some of the nicest people around!

[@Bruh-hq1hx]

@@user-fg8ux8zo6w no

[@iamnaitsirk3091]

Even the sun became brighter when they crossed the border.

[@zarzamora9240]

Fuck off asshole

[@abdmobashir3494]

Zarza Mora fuck off kid

[@vixx-kun7686]

@@zarzamora9240 What is your problem?😂

[@elonmusketeeeeer]

@@zarzamora9240 did someone just spit in your morning coffee, soy boy ?

[@lean.2366]

That's the power of the supreme leader lmao

[@LimJayhey]

i really wanna visit this country despite every thing ive heard, theirs just so much secracy about the country and that intrigues me

[@wym5311]

Very easy- just to do. I had the best time there! You will have to go via Beijing . Highly recommend it

[@maddi2389]

Ya but is it worth supporting a regime that massacres its people? The money will go straight to the family not the people. We shouldn't be supporting them by buying products and paying for trips.

[@wym5311]

Regime and massacres- we are all guilty of it- every single country but you know what? see the good in every country and learn to relax a bit or we might as well not go anywhere. You have your views and others will not agree so let it be

[@ShmooyShmoo]

me too, and then I thought about how much money it would cost to travel there and all the other places in the world I could spend my money..

[@beyondthestars4299]

the same to isreal

[@flowmastaflam]

Remember when VICE was good?

[@patrickbateman4148]

Why isnt vice good anymore?

[@flowmastaflam]

Patrick Bateman it has become a modern liberal disaster, pushing propaganda and lefty narratives for years at this point to further their agenda

[@twiggymelusine]

why watch it if you don't like it. seems like a waste of time for you if you think that way

[@flowmastaflam]

@@twiggymelusine This is an extremely flawed, low IQ argument.

[@borutbratislav558]

@@twiggymelusine By your logic every movie/series would have 100% rating. And It's ok to dislike things.

[@satoshinakadashi]

"i'm very feminine, i'm very shapely; i've got big knockers."

[@Davewilliamson5w]

And then she mentioned skinny dipping? I wanna party with these folks!!

[@sandeshsharma3560]

@bipana gurung we dont have femine do we..where do we have that show me

[@thegreatbaruc8741]

I go coo coo for tatas

[@1retrothomas437]

this guy lmao what, have you even been to Africa

[@teunboskers7114]

@@thisguy4505 " not infected with sjw propaganda" I don't think you want a wife, I think what you're looking for is a diswasher and vacuum cleaner. I like people that have have their own personality and are more than just the wife to a man

[@skrongo]

It doesn't matter where we are from. We are all brothers and sisters. It's the people with questionable agendas who create tension between people in the name of money, land and power. So few can mess it up for so many. But anywhere you travel you always find the same kind of friendly, good-hearted people.

[@psychostew911]

We have strength in spirit and in numbers, my brother! We must band together!

[@IceBox666theone666]

So true my friend! And this documentary is a nice step to a better world. We must understand each other and respect each other. Peace for ALL!!!

[@psychostew911]

IceBox666theone666 Amen to that, my friend! Furthermore, I actually have a practical solution to this problem of separation, fragmentation, and competition. We are all immersed in what's called the Unified Field. What is this field made of you may ask? It is not matter nor energy, rather, it is pure consciousness. A God-given ability in all of us to direct our consciousness deeply inward from methods such as Transcendental Meditation (tm dot org). We can learn TM, set intentions for world peace and cooperation, and meditate together but it can be at as vast a distance as we wish because the Unified Field is much more fundamental than the speed or distance of light. There are countless studies showing groups of people meditating for peace and such with statistically significant results - the science is there :)

[@baja30]

Anyone remember the Tea girl from Vice's earlier North Korea documentary?

[@krissanchez6005]

The Acanthus/Plinth Type me too

[@fiviifjj]

***** she died.

[@alanchester2833]

I think the North Korean people are very kind, friendly to strangers looks like others Asian..❤️

[@RawPower7]

Good people but poor leaders.

[@alanchester2833]

@@RawPower7 the leaders similar like god..

[@RawPower7]

@@alanchester2833 i mean most people around the world just want to live peaceful and a life without conflict but some countries leaders and politicians make it difficult.

[@alanchester2833]

@@RawPower7 i'm agreed with your opinion brother.. 👍👍

[@thanos8638]

Same story worldwide

[@edsonnogueira969]

Que viagem fantástica. Parabéns e obrigado por compartilhar.

[@Speedster404]

"To Kiwis and Kimchis" Haha good one!

[@richardomerag9805]

A.TWorldChannel

[@Juninavi]

Just cross the South Korea , totally different world! People, lifestyles, roads, cars even the sun lights shines differently !

[@kwony445]

Navibom Bom And corporations & bankers are in the process of turning everyone into shallow, mindless ultra-consumers like the majority of the U.S. (essentially easily manipulated human cattle for the elites). Another decade at the current rate and that goal will be achieved, and then it will get even worse.

[@KIMJUNGEUNism]

Yes, it is so different as to remind me of distortion of beauty going on there in the form of plastic surgery, of working people subservient to the large consortiums which are dedicated exploiting them in return, and of contempt and intolerance to anyone who dares to belittle the glorious and holy nation, an imaginary entity to which they believe themselves to belong.

[@keechulpark6161]

Actually the nature in north Korea is better than in South Korea, because no smog!!!!

[@Ms_Rupertstinski]

Yes 😅

[@ba4ikiko12]

I can't help noticing how naturally friendly and helping the locals were. Unspoiled by the western individualism, the incarnation of real kindness that comes from hard life. Love those people.

[@Dleonlemus9554]

S J too bad they have a shitty ass government tho they’re forced to treat their dictator like a god

[@nassauguy48]

Landscape and seascape wise, wow, what a gorgeous country!

[@garchauro]

This country looks very beautiful and peaceful. If North Koreans were just allowed to roam free...

[@johnchq]

Kind of disappointed that they were given a police escort, and special arrangements made for them the whole way. They didn't see the normal N. Korea. Still, a great and entertaining account of their trip.

[@nebojsabuhac1442]

and you're the one who saw "the normal North Korea"?

[@ix8750]

@@nebojsabuhac1442 no... I think that guys saying he's disappointed they didn't see the real north Korea because he wanted to see it...

[@mlafferty1100]

to be fair, they saw a lot more of the "normal" nk than most visitors who are taken to the monuments and museums in the capital see

[@patelkashyap1708]

Who say they are abnormal?? USA

[@HyperionTwo]

@@patelkashyap1708 North Korea is a communist shithole. Over 3.5 million have starved to death. 41% of the entire population is malnourished. Just looked at them, they are all very thin people. Their military uniforms look 3 sizes too big. Pick up a book sometime. The country itself is beautiful however.

[@sabord3046]

6:30 first Cocacola drink in North Korea

[@thomasthenextwalt2739]

Spralex Fishing You can bring Coke in but you have to take the label off

[@joejoematic8206]

I entered North Korea with a pepsi. honestly

[@jamesmunn8144]

Thank you for sharing this wonderful trip. I never would have thought it would be allowed. Well done! Wish I could have joined you. But not on my Goldwing.

[@glennaldosf]

just got back from North Korea on a tour with Koryo Tours... pretty fascinating country... I recognize a lot of the N.Koreans we met in this video, like that's our guide dancing @ 9.30 and the DMZ guide... that's probably the easiest biking they've done - no traffic whatsoever and must have been a real shock to the system to get back into Seoul..

[@Sheepy007]

"To Kiwis and Kimchis" actually made me giggle

[@MiSt3300]

I'd love to go there... To see the unspoilt nature, to travel in time to the 50s

[@kartikeysingh6971]

yes same here away from chaotic life ,

[@rakeshadhikar]

Lovely journey 🏍 Someday we will see both Koreas united by heart 💓 and improved livelihood in North 💖

[@TheGreatMandalore]

REally nice doc. Thank you Vice!

[@fastrice3461]

“I’m very shapely, I’ve got big knockers”. My kind of woman lol!

[@OYT0724]

I thought it was a bit silly how the lady in the video, Joanne, kept repeating the phrase "because I'm a woman", as if the North Koreans were being sexist towards her. Gender bias do exist in Asian nations, but I don't think helping a lady get across a bridge or being surprised by a blue eyed foreigner randomly passing their town is considered sexist. Perhaps she was the one who was holding onto western biases towards East Asian countries. After all, she's a white person from New Zealand :P North Korean regime is terrible, but the people are just people. It's a communist country and women are expected to work regular jobs the same way as men (as seen in 11:10). Don't get me wrong, life of a North Korean woman is pretty terrible, but that doesn't mean North Korean men are having the time of their lives... Everyone is suffering the same.

[@eleveneleven572]

Her comments about guys actually trying to help her across that bridge were pretty ungrateful. She needs to learn some manners.

[@lameduck1690]

@@OYT0724 Actually, according to defectors, misogyny is more common and institutionalized in North Korea than most places in the world.

[@OYT0724]

@@lameduck1690 Nobody is denying that North Korea is a terrible place for women. Most poverty stricken countries have terrible human rights issues, and NK is no exception. NK women suffer from domestic abuse and human trafficking brokers take advantage of other's unfortunate circumstances. The abuse is definitely there (Read: "Why the overwhelming majority of North Korean defectors are women" by Thomas Maresca, USA Today). Meanwhile, all NK men are conscripted into military service from age 17 to 30 where some of them get maimed or even killed being assigned to harsh labor virtually at no cost. But the service isn't actually over for these men. Even after 12 years time, most NK men who are able bodied are called back into public service (forced labor) and often placed under hard and dangerous working conditions such as logging, construction and operating heavy machinery with little to no safety protection. Because of such terrible living conditions, these socially stunted men apply the same military principles to women, treating them as second-class citizens because men see them selves doing the 'more dangerous and important' work. Whatever happened to communist equality, right? Yet it is a communist regime and there is no reward for your work, you are expected to provide free labor 'for the good of the public'. These public service calls are often under short notice and be punished if you don't participate. As previously mentioned, it's not all fun and games for NK men. Everyone is suffering. It's an evil and oppressive society, but people living there weren't born with horns either. They are regular human beings who happens to live under a defunct social structure. They may live in a misogynistic society, but helping a woman get across the narrow bridge isn't misogyny. There's still decency in these regular people, and we shouldn't demonize people who are unfortunate enough to be born under such terrible circumstances. We sit in our couch, enjoying Cable Television and laughing at other's misfortune, while these people are struggling for their survival under such screwed up social structure. We who live under a free world should make the distinction between an oppressive and abusive regime, and people who are forced to live in one.

[@lameduck1690]

@@OYT0724 I agree with pretty much everything you've said here.

[@susuchannel7262]

なぜ。同じ人間なのにこうも違うのか。 北朝鮮市民の笑顔が忘れられない。彼らに本当の幸せが訪れることを祈る。

[@WilliamThePayne]

Fantastic stuff! Old school vice documentaries were so good!

[@MrTynanDraper]

These people know how to spend their retirement years! Just hope I can be the same when I'm older.

[@ParanoidPixel]

This was beautiful.

[@non_brewed_condiment]

"These people know how to manage land" The Kim's: "Hey let's build a dam across the Taedong river"

[@diesel_dawg]

I half-expected a dragon to fly over the lake at Paektu.

[@user-ge4uk9ui8y]

2 countries, the same people. It's just sad to see them seperated.

[@bf2404]

Same as Northern Ireland and Ireland. India and Pakistan imo

[@jayscraggs1012]

Is what it is

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Religion divides Koreas, Irelands, india/Pakistan...

[@gorkemsaylgan2421]

@@BuzzLOLOL Religion does not really matter to koreas. Only system.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@gorkemsaylgan2421 - Religion divides the Koreas... used to divide the Vietnams...

[@kimjongun505]

Ahhh my homeland

[@glyndaholman4751]

Kim Jong Un lol

[@kimjongun505]

MLGDogecraft2255 but me daddy said

[@AtanasovPetar]

I will do a left hook, right cross combo on Kim Jong Un and he will die.

[@animexsenpai7909]

haha nice to know that but yes it is joke, bcause n.korea have banned ytube

[@kimjongun505]

a quick vpn fixed the problem

[@RamonCerdasSempreTico]

Definitely, the best documentary about Northern Korea I saw since 2010.

[@KiR_3d]

I would like to see both Koreas united... not by the "help" of Western world but by their own internal wisdom and love.

[@sethhorvath1151]

How’s that working out?

[@prodipkumargogoi4546]

Me with India n Pakistan

[@abduuu.]

@@prodipkumargogoi4546 yeah yeah..... I would like to see Indians and Pakistanis united with harmony I absolutely hate those people who kills people in the name of Islam i hate them... No one has the permission to kill anybody right? Every life on this planet is precious..... After all we are humans though.... I'm an Indian btw

[@rongike]

South Korea IS the western world tho 😳

[@JTelli786]

11:41 that scene was pretty eerie, not one single car on the road or boat in the river

[@Ockiegames]

HOWS THE TEA GIRL?

[@SuperWAZZZZZZUP]

Bane The Liberator hahahaha I remember those comments when Shane went their! LMAO

[@SuperWAZZZZZZUP]

Bane The Liberator *there

[@P4INKillers]

I was thinking the same thing, they should revisit tea girl.

[@LemonRush7777]

Hopefully in a KPOP band in South Korea by now.

[@vard10s41]

Update: I was there a year ago, and no trace of the tea girl! We were talking about that during the stop.

[@jamesharaldburrows3153]

Look at the way they are so eager to help ❤️ Everywhere there is so much goodness 🇰🇵

[@wongchenhau6593]

Thank you so much, watched & wish to visit the country...

[@nugame406]

everything looks suspicious...why they arrange all these event only for bikers?

[@swfcocs1]

public relations and to try and encourage foreign tourists-as long as the regime controls everything you do and see they love visitors for the foreign currency they spend

[@InfiltrateIndustries]

Promotion for the country and income - as dodgy as hell :)

[@RainingFlow19]

it took month to plan for a visit to NK. Im from malaysia and we have a diplomatic relationship with them so we hear those things from our tourist.

[@satellite964]

Yup.

[@MySHINeeAWESOME]

idk Malaysia has diplomatic relationship with NK.. since when?

[@ISpillSprite]

Must have been a truly once in a lifetime event! I would have loved to make the journey myself. I hope more opportunities like this open up for people of other countries, for other experiences. And I hope that from there the country slowly begins to open up more.

[@David-og7di]

Boycott the place, it is a pariah. Sadly the brainwashed populace pays the price for the guy with the funny haircut & his dynasty's crimes.

[@elaineeast-byers2339]

What I wouldn’t do to be on my bike doing a run like this. Beautiful

[@brigzthemostHigh]

Kiwi charm can get you pretty far in this world. As a New Zealander who travelled a fair bit i noticed alot of other countries gave me alot of respect just due to the fact that i was from New Zealand.

[@DarkGaming251]

The top of that mountain at 10:50 is really nice

[@DARIVSARCHITECTVS]

Why is the film running backwards at 11:45? Look at the fountain in the river. The water is not falling, but rising.

[@bittersweethood]

intriguing

[@BoBe1233]

NORTH KOREANS BAD JUJU FILM!

[@TwoDudesPlay]

Its a more dramatic shot from the city to the river

[@DARIVSARCHITECTVS]

That makes the most sense from a cinematography view, but the waterfall is a dead giveaway.

[@TwoDudesPlay]

DARIVS ARCHITECTVS Yeah what I mean is in post they probably decided it looked better than the way it was originally shot so they simply reversed it.

[@humbertomaldonado5950]

this 5 new zealanders had the best north korea tour ever... even better than 10000 videos i had seen from youtube.

[@gedeoxa7506]

3:43 Soldier : Owh Tourists, Respect

[@Hetzerg]

He salutes because there is escort lol.

[@guilhermeal2170]

Much more enjoyable than watching the usual hipsters Vice normally sends to do these types of documentary.

[@kiwibird8441]

They didn't send these people anywhere

[@MossyMos]

Ahh, ain't you just soo precious in your convictions? 16? 18!? Sounds like a 16-18 year old comment. Do your own fucking KZbin channel if you object so easily. Please take care, you pretend hipster 😏

[@h.i.sjoevall4213]

hehe yeah Shane is such a hipster (x

[@hansmueller5029]

Indeed

[@joemomma506]

It always amazes me that as much as Vice has covered North Korea (with some of their staff being banned from there after criticizing it) that they can still push the regressive lefts Democratic socialist ideology off on the rest of the world fairly regularly. North Korea IS the benchmark always reached in a "Democratic Socialist utopia". And sadly, the delusional lunatic left (like many at Vice) are promoting it constantly even after some of them being some of the few people to see with their own eyes and declare with their own mouths, how utterly awful, oppressive and depraved it is.

[@diaphilm]

This one is very different from all other reports about / from North Korea. Maybe not exhaustive, but probably one of the most beautiful.

[@justint1474]

This is probably the best NK documentary yet, every documentary I've ever seen are just some reporters into the Capital city of NK, nothing like this, amazing documentary!!!

[@claudioleao6188]

Imprecionante as belezas das duas Koreas, maravilha.

[@legionnaire4548]

made me tears on 14:50 thanks to the people from new zealand making a good friendship with both country to be in peace!

[@aveycot]

All the people at the beach freaked me out.

[@melonbarmonster]

They get to eat food and act like they are having fun bc of the weird foreigners.

[@earthling_77]

Me too

[@MrBayoumi]

I wonder how much money they had to pay to get in, and how they were able to get away with scenes like the broken bridge.

[@andrew459]

Probably nothing honestly , sure no one really thought about it , NK only wants the populated city’s and area to look good and no bad

[@hexoslaya3696]

Pretty sure you just ask. So long as they do t see you as a threat they’d probably let you in. Sure you might not get the vip treatment but still.

[@scotthinkle6613]

I'd love to visit there. What a amazing trip. It might be just me. But does seem like a beautiful place. Remind me of home.

[@reanukeaves]

9:19 they are so awkward I feel like they have been ordered to have fun in front of the camera lol

[@krixig]

The sad part is thats not entirely untrue...

[@krixig]

Thats a tad bit different. My place of employ wont put a gun to my head and throw me in a labor camp if I dont smile...

[@2forrty]

Krixig could be, but korean adults actually do this type of shit on occasions its fuckin weird lol

[@Anitagoforadump88]

Probably the best documentary yet on North Korea that captures well the true atmosphere (at least as experienced as a tourist) felt when travelling in North Korea. Many documentaries on youtube that just make North Korea seem cold and brutal (be it that or not) which isn't the same experience you get when you're there.

[@JJMain]

This was breathtaking Another great video Vice

[@setsunahakanai]

It may seem sorrowful on the outside, but in each and every North Korean, there is the longing of freely expressing joy someday.

[@paceypineapple6308]

House of horrors

[@dinil5566]

Actually people don't really think that much. Not all of them. Most of them probably will be satisfied with whatever they have. Especially with the lack of social media, the only life they mostly know is from where they are.

[@masterg6218]

stfu amerimutt. the NK people are happy and joyful, despite what Western propaganda wants you to believe. now go swallow some antidepressants like a good capitalist sheep.

[@humppi.2304]

Repressive as the DPRK government is, i think they are still allowed to be happy, at least.

[@setsunahakanai]

@@paceypineapple6308 OMG. XD You guessed my pfp right

[@paigesilva827]

Beautiful country. Heartbreaking they're so suppressed and kept from their families. I hope they can unite as one free country.

[@Redswipe]

06:36 "A lot can be learn't from them" About farming? Seriously? Millions of N. Koreans died from famine in the 90's and the only reason the country isn't totally starving now is because of the huge amounts of food aid from the UN.

[@Bigshackscott]

I know, part of me wonders whether their minder had a script for them to read, it's either that or Gareth is incredibly ignorant of what really goes on in North Korea.

[@TrueBlueJMS]

But the land is sooooo beautiful and unmolested whilst the people starve in the slave camps!

[@dopoganger5363]

Hey, if you want to leave the country, you say what's put in front of you.

[@chanroobi7460]

I would love to visit North Korea and watching this video will probably be the closest that I ever come to visiting. Thank you for risking it all to make this legendary trip.

[@wekker090]

What a epic journey. Still a big wish to visit the north.. Love the south.

[@arknark]

"To Kiwis and Kim-Chi's" Loved that

[@MegaDragonslayer1997]

Walking in North Korea is like walking through a portal to the past.

[@thenico92]

Nah, you should check Cuba.

[@Hetzerg]

There are countries that look poorer than north korea. While at the same time many countries have the same environment and buildings like in nk it is not that uncommon. Accept that the city in nk looks empty.

[@DoughBoy45]

I can’t help but bow my head everytime the locals wave 😭

[@diegosauda9596]

Bone chilling,shivering to even think that you are stuck in a place like this so hugly and frozen in a fake smile