North Korea Resumes Tourism After 5 Years with Pyongyang Marathon
British YouTuber Reveals Scenes of Pyongyang Through Marathon Participation
North Korea recently resumed tourism temporarily for the first time in five years, using the Pyongyang International Marathon as an opportunity, and the scenes of Pyongyang were revealed to the world through a British YouTuber with millions of subscribers. This YouTuber shared anecdotes such as asking a North Korean guide, "Does Kim Ju-ae seem like she will be North Korea's next leader?" introducing a somewhat more open North Korea than before.
He asked the North Korean guide in charge of his team, "Does Kim Jong-un (General Secretary of the Workers' Party) have a daughter?" The guide immediately replied, "Yes." When Jaggard asked again, "Do you think she will be the next leader?" the guide, with a somewhat embarrassed expression, answered, "I'm not sure." YouTube channel Harry Jaggard
On the 10th (local time), British YouTuber Harry Jaggard, who has about 2.33 million subscribers, posted a video on his YouTube channel reviewing his participation in the Pyongyang Marathon. He participated in the event as a member of the UK's Amateur Marathon Association. However, he stated, "I have never run a marathon in my life," and that he participated in the marathon solely to enter Pyongyang. It is known that tourists participating in the Pyongyang Marathon had to receive a special invitation from the North Korean Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports rather than a 'general tourist' visa.
He asked the North Korean guide in charge of his team, "Does Kim Jong-un (General Secretary of the Workers' Party) have a daughter?" The guide immediately answered, "Yes." When Jaggard asked again, "Do you think she will be the next leader?" the guide made an awkward expression and replied, "I'm not sure." North Korea has strictly regulated sensitive filmed materials or video cameras, not allowing them to be taken outside the country, but Jaggard's video was broadcast as is.
On the 10th (local time), British YouTuber Harry Jaggard, who has about 2.33 million subscribers, shared his experience participating in the Pyongyang Marathon on his YouTube channel. He took part in the event as a member of the Amateur Marathon Association of the UK. Harry Jaggard Instagram
Jaggard also reported that the newly constructed 'new town' on the outskirts of Pyongyang, built during the COVID-19 period, was included in the tour course. While drinking beer at the newly opened Taedonggang Beer House and strolling along Rimheung Street, he said, "Music is loudly playing on the streets, but it doesn't seem like people actually live in the apartments." He also said, "North Korean people were kind and gentle to me," and "We had many conversations off-camera, but when I took out the camera, the conversation froze."
North Korea resumed tourism for Western tourists last month after about five years but stopped again after three weeks. Tourism linked to the Pyongyang International Marathon was reportedly promoted as a 'temporary event.' Meanwhile, there are speculations that North Korea might resume tourism business again with the opening of the Gangwon-do Galma Coastal Tourist Area in June.
Meanwhile, North Korea has presented four principles to foreign tourists: △ Do not leave the guide △ Do not film without the guide's permission △ Do not speak disrespectfully about Kim Jong-un (the Supreme Dignity) △ Do not distribute religious items. Foreign tourists who violate these principles have been sentenced to labor re-education. In 2016, Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old American college student, was arrested for allegedly stealing propaganda materials while touring North Korea and was sentenced to 15 years of labor re-education. He was detained for about 17 months and was returned to the United States in a coma in 2017, dying a few days later.
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