Can Americans Visit North Korea?

[The] U.S. State Department strongly warns Americans against visiting North Korea because of the strained relationship between the two countries and the DPRK's tendency to accuse foreign tourists of being spies. But a handful of curious American tourists can and do visit North Korea every year, with some hefty stipulations.

North Korea is one of the most isolated countries in the world, and wants to keep it that way. Journalists are not allowed inside, period. But if you are a non-notebook scribbler, you may enter the county from mid-August to the end of September, which coincides with the country's famed choreographed Mass Games. This is the only time Americans are legally allowed into the country. Prepare for all of your actions to be strictly regulated--emphasize strictly--from the pictures you take (you may not photograph soldiers, check points, poverty, scenery, and basically anything candid) to how much reverence you show the Great Leader (you are expected to bow before his statues) to what you say (phone lines are not considered private and cells are usually confiscated). And if you do get in trouble, don't expect Bill to bail you out.

For the full post, and information on the few tour organizations that do enter North Korea (via China) click here. For more information on the State Department's position on North Korea, click here. And for a hypnotic video of the Mass Games, set to odd techno music, you should definitely click here.

Photo: Alan Hay