We recently did a blog explaining the nuances of football in North Korea, and another on the man who is possibly their best player. In June we’re planning a trip to watch the most successful North Korean club side, April 25th, take on Hang Yuen – the c …

When I first started taking people to the Taedong Diplomatic Club over 10 years ago, many a travel guide (and travel agency) stated it was impossible to go there as a tourist. In fact this was not the case, and a visit to the Diplo is very much part of …

The subject of what is the best hotel in North Korea does, as with any topic, elicit various opinions. But in my opinion the best hotel in the country is the also the only fully foreign-owned one – and most people have never even heard of it. The Emper …

Pyongyang’s nightlife might not exactly be the Last Days of Rome, but things have drastically improved – certainly in the eleven or so years that I’ve been visiting. Nowadays there are many more bars, coffee shops, and even pizza joints popping up in P …

Without doubt one of our most underrated tours – and for Americans at least, the closest view of North Korea you will currently get – is our North Korean Borderlands Tour. The tour starts either in Dandong or Tumen, with us taking the long journey alon …

North Korea often has an unfair reputation as lacking the technology of the West, but like everything with North Korea the truth is usually a little bit more complex. We’ve previously reviewed the Arirang Smartphone and the Samjiyon Tablet. Today we’re …

We often get asked by our guests travelling to North Korea if it has internet, and if tourists can get online when they visit the DPRK. The answer, like most answers in North Korea, is that it’s complicated at best! Here’s our guide to internet in Nort …

It wasn’t all that long ago that cell phones were banned in North Korea for both locals and foreigners alike. Allegedly the ban occurred after an attempt on the leader’s life using a bomb set off via a phone, although this is very much an unconfirmed r …

It is impossible to talk about football in North Korea without first dispelling a few myths about the country regarding football. North Korea did not claim that they won the World Cup. I was there; they watched the matches live, they were proud when th …

When I first started Young Pioneer Tours back in 2008 the main aim was to provide budget tours to North Korea. But we may have also had beer on the mind – not gonna lie! One of the first conversations I had when I first started arranging travel to Nort …