Visiting NK on the cheap

The vbs videos shows how to get a guided tour of Pyongyang. However, for around $50 a head, there is an unofficial tour of Ujeok island

Dandong is a Chinese border city situated at the mouth of the Apnok (or Yalu) River. When the night comes, Shinuiju, the North Korean city opposite Dandong, is shrouded in darkness while Dandong twinkles with bright neon lights. Here, people from both Koreas mingle: there are a restaurant run by the North Korean government, hideouts for North Korean refugees, South Korean businessmen, senior members of the North Korean Workers’ Party who are visiting on business, and many more.

Torrential rains had been falling for a week when a Chosun Ilbo news team arrived in Dandong. It was Aug. 9, 2007, on a special tour program called “human safari.” The program provided a rare chance for the news team to take a close look at residents on Ujeok Islet, a North Korean island in the Apnok River. The boatman raised his thumb, saying, “It’ll be worth your money.”

The charge for a group of four was 800 yuan (approximately W114,000, US$1=W1,010). Passengers also had to buy some 800 yuan worth of food and other goods. “The more cigarettes, sausage and juice you bring, the more you can enjoy your sightseeing,” the boatman said. “This tour is most popular among Chinese tourists.” When the boat reached the midpoint of the river, we could see two North Korean naval vessels lying at anchor 50 m ahead of us. We clearly saw North Korean flags fluttering on them.