US tourists do not travel to North Korea: Americans pay for the second passport

US tourists do not travel to North Korea: Americans pay for the second passport

For most people worldwide, the dark days of Covid-19 seem like a distant memory. But in North Korea this is different, as Justin Martell has reported since the beginning Pandemy was able to set foot into the sealed country again over five years ago.

strict health measures in North Korea

In North Korea, strict health measures such as wearing masks and temperature checkers are still everyday life. Popular tourist attractions, including local markets, remain blocked due to persistent fears of virus degree.

rumors about the origins of the virus

Martell described that the panda miebe -related paranoia in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DVRK) is still deeply rooted. "There are rumors that Covid-19 came into the country via a balloon from South Korea," said Martell, a filmmaker born in Connecticut who founded Pioneer Media to document unique and difficult to access place.

The beginning of a tourist revival

Martell was part of a small delegation of travel providers who visited North Korea last week to prepare West Tourism. After five days in which they laid the foundations for this limited return, they crossed the bitterly cold tumen river bridge back to China on Monday.

The first tourist trips to North Korea

Martell and his co -travelers - including the Australian Rowan Beard of Young pioneer Tours (Ypt) Rel = "NOFOLLOW" TARGET = "_ Blank" href = "https://koryogroup.com/" Target = "_ blank"> Koryo Tours - don't leave it unused for a moment. On Thursday, they should begin to bring small groups of Western tourists to Rason, a remote corner of North Korea at the borders to China and Russia. Among the reservations are tourists from Germany, France, the united Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Macao and Jamaica.

An important step after years of isolation

Beard, who has been leading Tours to North Korea for over a decade, describes the upcoming trips as a significant step after years of extreme isolation that had to experience the already isolated North Koreans. "I am overjoyed that the first group is going this week," said Beard, adding that a lot of enthusiasm can be felt on the ground. "However, it is a hard restart, and it will take time to find the balance."

The goal: restoration of trust and access

he pointed out that important experiences, such as visiting the Rason market, are currently not possible. Despite these setbacks, Beard remains optimistic and emphasizes that travelers are in conversation with local ministries in order to gradually restore access and build trust.

the business challenges and opportunities

Beard mentioned that his North Korean bank account in Rason, which he opened over a decade ago, still had the same account balance: about 25 Chinese Yuan (USD 3.50). During their visit, the travel providers discussed to include local cinema experiences in the travel plans in the future. Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea recently revitalized its film industry, with new films such as the Korean war dramas "72 hours" and "A day and one night" that are shown in cinemas.

restrictions for western visitors and the political situation

The capital of North Korea, Pyongyang, remains closed to western visitors, despite the access for Russian tourists who have been allowed since last year, in the course of the in -depth relationships with Moscow. While the pandemic excluded all visitors, Americans have been banned to enter North Korea for a long time. On September 1, 2017, the US State Department imposed a travel ban after the 22-year-old American student Otto Warmbier, who was detained in North Korea and returned home in a continuing vegetative state, died shortly afterwards.

an unexpected access to North Korea

Martell, who had previously visited North Korea eleven times, was in the country when the ban came into force. "I crossed the Sinuiju-Dandong border when it happened," he recalled. "I was probably the last American tourist with a US pass that left the DVRK." Despite the ban, Martell continued to travel to North Korea. "I didn't want to stop coming. I didn't want to end the conversations." In order to avoid the US travel ban, Martell achieved double citizenship between Saint Kitts and Nevis, a Caribbean country that is known for its citizenship through investments. With a six-figure sum in the fund for sustainable island states, he secured a second passport that made it possible for him to legally return to North Korea without violating US restrictions.

The effects of geopolitical events

"It was about a year of paperwork," he said. "Background reviews, financial disclosures - the whole program." But since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, prices for citizenship programs have increased. "The prices have doubled or tripled because of the number of Russians who apply for a second passport," said Martell. "It is now $ 250,000. I paid much less." Despite the costs, he sees the investment as worthwhile. "You really have to want to go there," he said. "But my advice is: If you invest time and money, make sure that the passport offers more than just access to North Korea. My Saint Kitts-Pass sends me to Russia-something that my US passport cannot do."

insight into the opinions of the North Koreans

Beard said that a “well-known” YouTube travel influencer is currently going through a similar process for obtaining a Spanish passport that should cost almost $ 200,000. While US politics provided discussion under the North Korean guides, the topic of war in Ukraine was treated with silence or careful omission. Ukrainian and western governments claim that Pyöngjang north Korean troops sent has to struggle on the side of Russia , with many units suffered severe losses. Vaczi, the head of the DPRK tours for Koryo Tours, observed the sensitivity of this topic. "I had a guide that knew a lot about Eastern Europe," he said, "but I didn't mention Ukraine. It felt like a border that should not be exceeded."

focus: human encounters in North Korea

a change in the photo receipt and personal encounters

Vaczi found the travel plans in Rason, a special economic zone, restricted and uninspired. "A lot of factories and schools," he said. "No markets. No spontaneity. It quickly becomes repetitive." However, there were some remarkable changes. The photography rules, which were once notorious, were much more relaxed. "They had only told me once that I should stop filming," said Vaczi, "and that was because I was filming a tour." Martell, on the other hand, felt the view of the American passport - even with his Kittitian Passport. "I was told that I should delete two clips that were recorded at the same time; one when I filmed the preparation of a mass dance, and the other because the guide had incorrectly translated a propaganda logan and then made a video about it."

a way to human encounters

Despite his American origin, Martell says that he did not experience hostility. "There were none as far as anti -American comments are concerned," he said. "Once we went for a walk in Hae’an Park, and some children saw us and ran away. One of the guides joked: 'Maybe you know that you are American imperialists!' I replied: 'No, just one!' And we all laughed. I did not take it as a bad comment." Even the usual symbols of hostility to the USA seemed to be alleviated. Martell found that he did not see an anti -American propaganda aposter and had to ask for anti -American postcards in the foreign bookstore because they were no longer prominently exhibited.

The need for connection

Despite all the barriers and challenges, the human encounters - raw, unpolished and personally - left a lasting impression with Martell and his companions. In a local school, Martell found himself in a question and answer game with curious students. "The children were not interested in politics," he said. "They wanted to know how music and sport were - what life was in the USA. They were looking for a connection."