TikToker's North Korea trip offers rare glimpse behind closed doors

North Korea is known for many stories. Escapees describe it as a country steeped in propaganda, where the value of human life is negligible. The media frequently focuses on the country's citizens and its leader, Kim Jong Un. He is often described as an impulsive tyrant who will do anything to subjugate his people. Death penalties for even the most minor offenses are the norm in North Korea. It’s no wonder the government under Kim Jong Un dictates everything in the country, from citizens' hairstyles to the music they listen to and even the content that reaches Western media.

Many people, when asked about the country they would least like to visit, do not point to North Korea. The threat of prison for taking a bad photo or not following the rules of worshipping the Great Leader doesn't exactly encourage tourism. However, some people take the risk. Few of them decide to publish photos or videos taken during their trip boldly.

The TikTok user known as skinnhandske visited North Korea. His profile contains several videos and many photos showing life in Pyongyang, the country's capital. The materials depict ordinary people hurrying to work, chatting, and riding bicycles. The buildings, cars, and people look like time has stood still in the 1980s. However, there is no sign of the extreme poverty often described in the media. Where's the catch?

Trips to North Korea are only possible through tours organized by travel agencies with government approval. Most tourists choose one of two Chinese travel agencies: Koryo Tours or Young Pioneer Tours. Individual trips are rare and usually happen by invitation of a North Korean diplomat. During a trip to North Korea, visitors can only see what the government wants to show, primarily the capital, Pyongyang. The city is a showcase in North Korea, so it is the only place tourists can see. The real dramas related to poverty occur in the countryside, which is off-limits to foreigners.

What can’t be brought into North Korea? Books from South Korea, drugs, weapons, Bibles and other holy books, and GPS transmitters. You can get a mobile phone and a camera, but without telephoto lenses.