North Korean tactlessness
Last year when I visited North Korea, one of the stops was a couple of palaces out in the countryside, the International Friendship Exhibition. One is a large building that stores all the gifts from around the world that have been sent to Great Leader Comrade Kim Ilsung, and it included anything from train cars from the leaders of the Soviet Union to a basketball signed by Michael Jordan. The front door is massive and is guarded by two guards holding chrome-plated AK47s.

Once we got in, they checked our cameras in the front so we couldn't take pictures inside. We looked through, barely seeing a fraction of all the artefacts.

Next, we headed to a smaller palace which housed Dear Leader Comrade Kim Jongil's gifts. The guide told us it was significantly smaller than the first palace, and didn't have quite as many gifts. I remarked "And I bet a lot of the rooms are still empty."

Anyway, I meant it as "He's still alive, so presumably he needs there to be room for more gifts," but it came off more as "Because he sucks worse than his dad." Anyway, the guides brushed it off, and I escaped without finding out if the chrome-plated AK47s shoot chrome-plated bullets.
(racetraitor has an alibi for, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 0:02, 6 replies)

How did you get your Visa?
I tried many times to go there and tell them what cunts they are.
( The Mock Turtle ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 0:05, closed)

Koryo Tours
Through a company run out of Beijing.

I've never heard of UK citizens having trouble, as long as you're willing to pay over 1000 pounds.
(racetraitor has an alibi for, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 0:39, closed)

Why do you want to pay them?
I know it's a complicated situation but surely paying the government is only paying the opressors? Would you slip Mugabe a few quid to go to Zimbabwe?
Honest questions though asked in a slightly shocked tone.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 2:19, closed)

Sure
I went through that when I was deciding whether to go.

However, ultimately I think the experience was worth it for me, and not really a lot of money for them.
(racetraitor has an alibi for, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 9:14, closed)

I suppose, then I should admit a couple of things.
I'd love to meet Kim Jong-Il and if I'd been given the chance I would have paid up to a hundred quid for a Zimbabwean multi-billion note when their currency collapsed.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Fri 4 Nov 2011, 20:10, closed)

I find the whole North Korea thing immensely fascinating
Check out these Youtube links where Vice visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ixGYzbLz0&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLF5BEFE1AFB1DAFD1

And Monkeetime visit:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J2q5AwNzvQ

Excellent viewing. You also get clicks from me for having the balls to go.
(Spaff_Quaffer Wise fwom your gwave., Fri 4 Nov 2011, 12:21, closed)