Today's London daily "Metro" carried an article in the travel section about the DPRK. Reading the online edition it is not too bad and even points out that housing is given to DPRK residents free of charge. Howeve the printed edition contained some inaccuracies : the author of the article was pictured with a Korean People's Army officer who was described as her guide. However all tour guides are civilians and the officer could have only been a guide at the Fatherland Liberation War museum or Panmunjom. It also stated that all foreigners stay at the Yangyakkdo hotel. Not true foreigners also stay at the Pyongyang Koryo, the Potonggang hotel , the Changgwang hotel and even lower priced Haebangsan hotel with Chinese staying at the Sosan hotel.
The printed edition says that it costs about £1 for a beer . However the website "price of a pint " states that it is actually 38p . Visting the DPRK in 2008 it was noticed that a bottle of beer in a supermarket could be bought for 21p.
The article refers to , "Kim Il-sung, introduced this ruling philosophy." but fails to mention that this is the Juche idea based on the concept that man is the master and decides everything.
The article also says "home to the lucky few permitted to live there, mainly government officials and their families" . This is nonsense 2 million people live in Pyongyang and people from all walks of life live there, factory workers, teachers, soldiers, train drivers , farmers just to mention a few occupations.
It is seems to be an issue for the writer that usually foreigners are accompanied by guides ( not always in fact) but surely this is an exercise in total sovereignty by the DPRK by ensuring those who visit it play by the rules of the country and are answerable to them.
UK KFA
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