Flight Destinations
Flights to North Korea
Places in North Korea
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North Korea is on the northern half of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Shared with its southern neighbours, the relationship between the two is extremely patchy. Although North Korea has much to offer tourists, getting into the country is by no means easy.
Tourists wishing to visit North Korea can only do so as part of an organised tour group, and for this reason there are no direct international flights to North Korea. There are a limited number of tour operators around the world who operate tours to North Korea, and although South Korea may have been seen as a gateway into the North, this is now no longer the case because North Korea is tightening its borders between the two even further.
From the UK you have two options for flights to North Korea – either arrange the complete tour from within the UK, or catch a flight to Beijing and make the arrangements to join a tour there. Beijing is the most popular point from where tours start, and prices will usually include transport into and around North Korea, accommodation and meals throughout your visit, and of course the services of a tour guide. It is likely you will travel on North Korea’s only airline from Beijing – Air Koryo has two flights a week from Beijing to North Korea, landing at the country’s capital Pyongyang.
The Tourist Attractions of North Korea
All tourists visiting North Korea are extremely restricted on their movements and hence you can only enter the country with a tour guide. You have the option to join an organised tour with a number of other visitors, or you can, for an increased fee and a lot more hassle, attempt to travel on your own with a tour guide. You would expect that if you tour this way you will have more of a chance to see what you want to, though this isn’t necessarily the case. You will find, when touring North Korea, that you are only shown what they want you to see, and that you are not allowed to interact with any of the local people. Tour itineraries will vary from operator to operator, though here are some of the sites which you might see…Pyongyang
North Korea’s capital and largest city is Pyongyang. As stated above, you will only be taken where the tour guide wants you to go, and most tours start with a visit to the large statue of Kim II-Sung. Other stops on the tour may include the Juche Tower. This is a 170 metre high tower which is again associated with Kim II-Sung and his ‘Juche’ philosophy. What this tower does provide though is a great view of the city from the top.
A tower of a different kind is the Ryugyong Hotel. Standing 330 metres high this almost pyramid-like building dominates the skyline. The sad thing is that they run out of money in 1992 and no building has taken place on it since!
The Arch of Triumph was modeled on Paris’s Arc de Triomphe. The one in Paris was the largest one in the world until the North Korean arch was finished, and it was built to commemorate Korea’s resistance and liberation from Japan.
Other Destinations
Kaesong is one of North Korea’s smaller cities, and although there has been modern development the main attraction is the fact that this is an ancient city and former capital of the Koryo Dynasty. There are a number of ancient tombs and temples to visit.
North Korea also has some outstanding natural beauty, but whether your tour will visit these places is another matter – the Diamond Mountains are very beautiful as is Paekdusan, a mountain with huge crater lake.