North Korea

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One of my last days in Korea, I was lucky enough to go up to the North Korean city of Kaesong. Our trip started out with special Visas that were to be worn around our necks at all times, and some serious searches of ourselves and our bags. Getting into North Korea you could tell an immediate change. The guards looked like leftovers from the Cold War era, and near the border the North Korean Government had chopped down all the trees to better detect deserters. We were briefed on the way up what would happen, when to take photos, and how to never say their leader, Kim Jong Ill, or their Eternal Leader, Kim Il Sung, names. When we crossed the border we got a North Korean solider on our bus and then in between our busses were armed guards in vehicles. I have been to a couple communist countries, but this was true communism. There were no storefronts, no business, really just nobody since in Communism everyone works, so everyone was out in the fields. But as our bus drove by we saw soldiers standing at attention on deserted streets, and in fields ready at any second to raise their red flag if they saw the hint of a photo being taken from the moving bus. Our guided trip took us to beautiful waterfalls, historic bridges, and museums, but none of this really mattered. It was what we saw from the windows that really showed us a glimpse of North Korea. It literally felt like you stepped back in time half a century. The people wore simple old fashioned grey/brown clothes and rode old style bicycles with big baskets. The children were the only breath of fresh air with their bright red bows some even smiling and waving at us. At one point while we were about to board the bus we saw some people across the street standing in a line behind a stone wall just staring at us, so we stood there and stared back. We were only across the street but we were literally worlds apart, each so curious about the other. At least I think they were curious, I wondered what they think of us, are they envious of our ability to travel, North Koreans must receive permission to move about, or are they resentful of our lifestyles. At one point in the day I found a North Korean flag pin that they all must wear bearing the face of their eternal leader. I carried it around all day thinking of ways to sneak it home with me, but after another lecture on fines, and imprisonment I ended up tossing it away with a gum wrapper in the garbage. My trip to North Korea was somber and eye opening, especially because since I returned, a South Korean tourist was shot and killed, thus all trips have been suspended. I am thankful for the opportunity to see a glimpse of what life is like a mere hour North of my comfortable South Korean home. While North Korea was extremely beautiful having escaped the wrath of development that has stripped South Korea of some of its nature, the beauty can not hide the effects that lack of development has on its citizens.

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Photos

North Korea
Kaesong, North Korea

Kaesong
The old building in the left corner got my camera taken away and photos deleted! Whoops!

Comments

[two4deroad]

Us there?
Your impressions managed to give a glimpse of life vs. life