They’re mean up there.
Posted by natecrew on November 3, 2007
At the end of this month, we’re taking a 3-day trip to North Korea. We’ve been given this “Banned items list and other regulations.” The italics are mine.
① Mobile phones and other communications devices are not permitted. Cameras with telephoto lenses of more than 160mm and binoculars with zooming capabilities of 10 times or more are banned. All electronic equipment must be checked at the Guemgang Condo before departing for North Korea. If it is not good enough to bring into the North, you’ll have to leave in our bus and it will be kept safe until return from the tour. This includes all cameras, battery chargers, PDAs, notebook computers, calculators & CDP, and MP3 players (If it doesn’t have a recording system, you can bring MP3 player).
② Newspapers and magazines from South Korea aren’t permitted. You are allowed to bring personal reading material but please take the subject matter into consideration.
③ You must ALWAYS wear your ID (you will get this before you arrive in NK) around your neck. You will be fined if it lost or damaged.
④ Must carry your passport and ID with you at all times.
⑤ You are not permitted to bring alcohol, but bring some foods into North Korea. There are some shops where you can buy alcohol and foods in North Korea.
⑥ Washing hands and/or feet is not allowed in the fresh water springs (fine is $15). Also, please be aware of the NO SMOKING areas and do not leave cigarette butts on ground.
⑦ Do not take any natural objects (such as rocks and sea shells).
⑧ Only US dollars and credit cards are accepted (You can use KRW [Korean won] at some places).
⑨ There are many large rocks with engraving done by the government. Do not touch or lean on these rocks.
⑩ You may speak with the North Korean people that you meet, but you may not take random pictures of them, including pictures from inside the bus. In addition, please be careful of the conversation topics when speaking with North Koreans. DO NOT talk about politics, diplomatic relations, economics and other such sensitive issues.
So, it’ll be an experience. Apparently, their “guides” will watch every move and check our camera regularly. I have some ideas…
We’ll see how it goes.
