# Vacation in North Korea **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 21, 2017, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533 "2017-06-21T14:34:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/41 "2017-06-22T12:09:14Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Bad idea. I’d just as soon have a Holiday In Cambodia. Cambodia is a beautiful country to vacation in and Angkor Wat is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/42 "2017-06-22T13:06:23Z")
It should be illegal for US citizens to travel to North Korea except on official government business. Our security and economy are at risk when they take a citizen hostage. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/43 "2017-06-22T13:20:01Z")
Sure. Just don’t tear any posters. Or, you know, touch anything. Or say anything out loud that could be misconstrued. In fact don’t touch or say anything, and you’ll be fine. Well, try not to _look_ too suspicious, also. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/44 "2017-06-22T14:03:37Z")
Thanks everybody. As of this post roughly 3 out of 4 of us think vacationing in NK is a stupid idea. In another thread I was chastised for agreeing with someone that Otto Warmbier made a stupid decision. I feel sorry for him and his family. He most definitely didn’t deserve his fate but that doesn’t automatically excuse his stupid decision. I just wanted to see how many others agreed that taking a vacation in a hostile land is a stupid idea. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/45 "2017-06-22T14:11:12Z")
Just curious, where do Cambodia or Peru fall on your ‘stupid choice’, scale? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/46 "2017-06-22T14:14:53Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Just curious, where do Cambodia or Peru fall on your ‘stupid choice’, scale? Is Peru considered dangerous? I’m mean Cambodia has to overcome a dangerous rep from decades ago so I understand asking about it, but why Peru? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/47 "2017-06-22T14:25:30Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Is Peru considered dangerous? I’m mean Cambodia has to overcome a dangerous rep from decades ago so I understand asking about it, but why Peru? Cambodia seems to have been a fairly popular destination–at least among people my age back in the early 2000s. A number of people I know did the whole Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos trip. Looking at the stats, its tourism has only increased since them. Almost a quarter million Americans and 5 million tourists overall visited last year. (And, yes, I understand that “Holiday in Cambodia” is a Dead Kennedys reference.) As for Peru, I’m not sure where that comparison came from. Doesn’'t everybody want to go visit Machu Picchu? Peru is a bucket list destination for me. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/48 "2017-06-22T14:35:57Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Just curious, where do Cambodia or Peru fall on your ‘stupid choice’, scale? Cambodia is fine. Everyone should see Angkor Wat and Machu Picchu. Forget about Peru, though! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/49 "2017-06-22T14:41:34Z")
FYI, if you’re curious, [here](http://www.youngpioneertours.com/) is the website for the tour company that Otto Warmbier traveled with. (Note that they’ve already said that they’re not going to take an Americans to North Korea as a result of this incident.) I read the descriptions of some of the tours. In particular, there is one (really it’s a volunteer thing) that involves [living and working on a farm north of the capital for about a week](http://www.youngpioneertours.com/tour/farming-volunteer-program). I would think North Korea wouldn’t need foreigners to help out with the farming, given the number of people already in the country. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/50 "2017-06-22T15:18:43Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Is Peru considered dangerous? I’m mean Cambodia has to overcome a dangerous rep from decades ago so I understand asking about it, but why Peru? Doesn’t look especially bad (see “Safety and Security” here): [Peru International Travel Information](https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/peru.html) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/51 "2017-06-22T15:29:25Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Doesn’t look especially bad (see “Safety and Security” here): [Peru International Travel Information](https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/peru.html) What about Brazil? I hear the monkey problem has got even worse. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/52 "2017-06-22T15:40:12Z")
Kashmir? Sri Lanka? Myanmar? Malaysia? Vietnam? Are you just going by US state dept recommendations as the bible? Or some other criteria? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/53 "2017-06-22T15:50:10Z")
I wouldn’t regard the State Department’s warnings as the be-all and end-all, but I’d certainly read them carefully before buying my tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/54 "2017-06-22T16:41:16Z")
My original thought was “No, that’s dumb and it’s probably boring” but then I went and looked up North Korean art and architecture and, while it’s largely regime related, I could see myself finding it interesting enough for a few days. So, in a vacuum, sure I’d take the trip. In reality, N. Korea would still fall close to the bottom of the list of desired travel locations and the concern about being detained as a spy or having a minder or other political concerns would make me probably stay home. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/55 "2017-06-22T16:50:41Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Kashmir? Sri Lanka? Myanmar? Malaysia? Vietnam? > > Are you just going by US state dept recommendations as the bible? > > Or some other criteria? That would be a good barometer, not so much for the danger level, but as an indication of how easily they think you would have a problem and hard the Gov thinks it would be to extricate your ass from that country ---
**Author:** ![Murph1111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@Murph1111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murph1111)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/56 "2017-06-23T00:33:03Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I would never decline to go anywhere merely because it has become a popular political whipping boy. I think it is more likely that YOU would become the whipping boy. Besides, if you went to North Korea, you wouldn’t see North Korea. Much better to go to a wax museum and see Elvis, the Beatles, etc… They’re more real than than the Korean people you will be allowed to see. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/57 "2017-06-23T11:43:59Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I wouldn’t regard the State Department’s warnings as the be-all and end-all, but I’d certainly read them carefully before buying my tickets. First read the state department warnings about Canada, to see how fraidy-cat they are by default. The number of Americans living in Mexico could be as high as a million, but the warnings are dire. Look at some other country’s travel warnings, and check out the USA, and see if you’re afraid to go there. You’re safe in virtually any country, as long as you don’t go waving bibles around and prlselytizing Christian fundamentalism. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/58 "2017-06-23T13:33:04Z")
Not-American here. I’d rather eat my own liver than going to visit North Korea. Besides, there are plenty of places in the whole world that are both more interesting and less insane than North Korea, and there are more of those places than I will be able to visit in a lifetime. So, NK - no, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/59 "2017-06-23T18:24:21Z")
Sure, I’ve been to worse places. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533/60 "2017-06-23T18:30:41Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > First read the state department warnings about Canada, to see how fraidy-cat they are by default. [QUOTE=[Alerts and Messages - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada](https://ca.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/)] There are no active Travel Alerts or Travel Warnings at this time. [/QUOTE] 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vacation-in-north-korea/789533.md?page=4)