Why in earth would anyone want to visit North Korea?

[Mai72]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-...ces-us-citizen-to-6-years-hard-labour/5742874

He doesn't look happy. I feel bad for him, but I don't get it.

What the f*ck does North Korea have that an American would want to visit the country?

North Korea has yet to announce a trial date for Mr Fowle, 56, who was arrested in May this year for leaving a bible under the toilet of a sailor's club in the eastern port city of Chongjin.

 

[Jaskalas]

Either he's a moron or a martyr.

No sane person sticks their head into a lion's mouth and thinks it's going to turn out okay cause "I'm an American!".

 

[WelshBloke]

I'd like to go if I was guaranteed a safe return.
Obviously I wouldn't be so stupid as to try and push my religion or politics while I was there though.

 

[Matt1970]

I don't understand it either.

 

[Brainonska511]

I get kind of annoyed when I see those stories. What the hell did this batch of Americans think would happen to themselves after the last several Americans were detained when just visiting? It's either idiocy or insanity to willingly go to visit NK as an American.

 

[Zaap]

I fully understand why people go, and I'm glad they do.

Everytime the people trapped in that country encounter westerners and realize that their crazy insane government is just that and lying to them, it helps break down the barriers for that country's (eventual) joining the rest of the world. Yes, it'll be a long slow process and take a few more generations, but it *requires* westerners that are brave (and or crazy) enough to go there and stick their necks out.

That said, it's pretty stupid to bring in religious or political material when you know what could happen.

But I'm glad there are people that are brave/crazy enough to go there and expose the population to glimpses of the outside world. I mean, many *KNOW* their government is full of shit- probably the same percentage that don't fall for political bullshit anywhere, about half- but it's good for them to see proof that westerners aren't all devils with horns that hate them, and all the other propaganda they get a constant spew of.

 

[WHAMPOM]

Missionary complex, martyr complex or adrenalin junky. Why ask why the people do what they do on Jackass? Fire challenge? Tease a caged tiger?

 

[Nebor]

People arrested and imprisoned in North Korea of their own volition shouldn't be a high priority for the US Government to free.

 

[IGBT]

every eco-KOOK liberal in the US want's to go there. The place goes black at night / president for life leadership / symbolism over substance liberal politics / the whole country is run by big.gov monopoly / massive historical illiteracy / Praetorian guard news and media all on a singe tv / radio channel / centralized welfare state / universal health care / kimchee / a society conditioned to accept insanity just like the DNC / endless hate America rhetoric / socialist induced national decay / lots of mandatory mandatories / institutionalized socialist corruption / seems like most of you guys would love the place and eventually develop a taste for boiled tree bark.

 

[DCal430]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-...ces-us-citizen-to-6-years-hard-labour/5742874

He doesn't look happy. I feel bad for him, but I don't get it.

What the f*ck does North Korea have that an American would want to visit the country?

It isn't as bad as you think, we even have Americans who are happy to try to move to North Korea.

 

[Anarchist420]

The first monarcho-isolationist (because that is what revolutions turn into as equal public property privileges for all isn't possible) ruler of NK (or whoever the rulers of Red china were) must have altered the genotype of those who got trapped or stayed with some mind control device like that exploded all over the territorial NK. Especially given how incompetent their leader is and how smart the South Koreans are.

It's fucked up as hell and i hope to be long dead and cremated before it can happen to people who don't individually exit north america quickly.

 

[Brainonska511]

The first monarcho-isolationist (because that is what revolutions turn into as equal public property privileges for all isn't possible) ruler of NK (or whoever the rulers of Red china were) must have altered the genotype of those who got trapped or stayed with some mind control device like that exploded all over the territorial NK. Especially given how incompetent their leader is and how smart the South Koreans are.

It's fucked up as hell and i hope to be long dead and cremated before it can happen to people who don't individually exit north america quickly.

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/sluggo/tinfoil-hat-2.jpg

 

[PokerGuy]

I'd love to visit there and see one of the most bizarre and secluded places on earth, but you'd have to be pretty crazy to go there. Tough to think you're going to be safe in a place where they have no problem starving millions of their people or sending them to labor camps for the slightest perceived slight of the dear leader or the party.

 

[Tombstone1881]

 

[theeedude]

Could be interesting to see a George Orwell novel first hand. But not on an American passport, otherwise it is liable to turn into a Kafka book.

 

[rudder]

any U.S. Citizen traveling to NK should have to buy detainment insurance. No need to use taxpayer $$$ for your release.

Mr Miller, from Bakersfield in California, entered North Korea in April, where he tore up his tourist visa and demanded Pyongyang grant him asylum, according to a release from state media at the time.

 

[MongGrel]

Would make a pretty good trip for an end of bucket list thing, go to NK and spit in Glorious Leaders face.

Of course the footage would never get out of the country even if ya did meet him.

 

[Matt1970]

every eco-KOOK liberal in the US want's to go there. The place goes black at night / president for life leadership / symbolism over substance liberal politics / the whole country is run by big.gov monopoly / massive historical illiteracy / Praetorian guard news and media all on a singe tv / radio channel / centralized welfare state / universal health care / kimchee / a society conditioned to accept insanity just like the DNC / endless hate America rhetoric / socialist induced national decay / lots of mandatory mandatories / institutionalized socialist corruption / seems like most of you guys would love the place and eventually develop a taste for boiled tree bark.

As I am learning in another thread, being pro-socialism, anti-capitalism and probably now having a dictator are conservative values. That makes North Korea mostly conservative right? Liberalism, redefining our values based on what works on a country by country basis.

 

[MongGrel]

As I am learning in another thread, being pro-socialism, anti-capitalism and probably now having a dictator are conservative values. That makes North Korea mostly conservative right? Liberalism, redefining our values based on what works on a country by country basis.

You seem pretty unclear on a lot of things in life, grasshopper.

 

[WelshBloke]

As I am learning in another thread, being pro-socialism, anti-capitalism and probably now having a dictator are conservative values. That makes North Korea mostly conservative right? Liberalism, redefining our values based on what works on a country by country basis.

North Korea is conservative, it certainly isn't liberal.

 

[Sonikku]

NK isn't all bad. They're among the leading countries in the world in combating childhood obesity.

 

[repoman0]

I went out briefly with a girl who visited North Korea. It sounded like an interesting place to visit, and I'd certainly go if my chances of being arrested and detained for no reason didn't skyrocket by 10000%

NK isn't all bad. They're among the leading countries in the world in combating childhood obesity.

:awe:

 

[Exterous]

It isn't as bad as you think, we even have Americans who are happy to try to move to North Korea.

Apparently he wanted to live there as he asked for asylum. Be careful what you wish for I guess...

I get kind of annoyed when I see those stories. What the hell did this batch of Americans think would happen to themselves after the last several Americans were detained when just visiting? It's either idiocy or insanity to willingly go to visit NK as an American.

There are actually a fair number of people who do visit NK and return safely. The problem seems that many want to push the limits in a very law heavy country that has serious consequences for breaking those laws.

If you read any of the trip reports there are all kinds of people who try and sneak prohibited equipment in, sneak into prohibited areas, break this law or that. They do it in an attempt to pierce the whitewashed veil of the heavily constructed 'tourist experience' but I don't think it really sinks in to many that what might be a minor offense in a normal country will carry a much heftier penalty in someplace like NK

 

[The Merg]

I'm confused. The Miller kid went to North Korea and tore up his tourist Visa and asked for asylum. He was then arrested and tried to get the U.S. to get him out. I'd think that by asking for asylum that you just renounced your citizenship. Yes?

- Merg

 

[PliotronX]

Mr Miller, from Bakersfield in California, entered North Korea in April, where he tore up his tourist visa and demanded Pyongyang grant him asylum, according to a release from state media at the time.

I think this interview is my final chance to push the American government into helping me.

Smooth move, exlax.