Justice versus Conscience

I feel bad if any of these people get in trouble for unknowing being recorded.

I understand that they went in and filmed incognito, but showing the faces of their guides while probing them, and endangering their livelihoods after these guys go back to safety of their own country is absolutely detestable.

Honestly, I’m a little worried for the people that were unknowingly recorded. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got in serious trouble.

I got to travel to South Korea years ago and take a tour of the DMZ. Looking across the border and seeing the soldiers on the North Korean side was scary. It was very quiet and eerie but it was an experience I’ll never forget.

I loved the girl in the green outfit that was showing them around the museum and teaching them about the “juche”. I hope she’s okay. I really hope you all didn’t get her in trouble by recording what she said. Her English was perfect!!

I’m obsessed with documentaries about North Korea. I’ve watched almost every single one on YouTube.

I think it’s very interesting to learn about North Korean culture and in many ways how different it is from South Korea . You guys are so brave to have visited such a place and these children are so talented!! My heart goes out to those and makes us who live in the US appreciate how it is to express our opinions openly without being punished.. happy that you guys went back and seen things had changed for the better for North Korea though and a different perspective. Great tours of North Korea and interesting culture

Well done. As much as I dislike the regime, I have a lot of empathy for the people.

A exceedingly good documentary. There is something unnatural , inhumane and Orwellian about what we see in this country. No wonder not a few North Koreans attempt to escapte from North Korea.

What I love about DW’s documentary is that it paints North Korea in a interesting light of what a dystopia would look like, scary and unbelieverable yet has just enough happiness to keep it functional and afloat

These DW Documentaries are getting so addictive

That feeling of euphoria he got while people where “cheering” him on is the reason why Kim’s grandpa, father and himself are a leaders. The feeling is prob an addiction you can’t quit.

Very fine job in reporting back. And it’s refreshing to see that the everyday people showed themselves with some common humanity that I believe all of us have. I really wish the unification would bring families back together – six decades of separation is way too long, regardless of the reasons. And hopefully North Koreans might have more freedom with their daily lives post-reunification (and maybe South Koreans moderate their obsession with money too).

Almost invariably, such travel documentaries about North Korea feature Westerners asking difficult political questions of their minders, seemingly unaware that even the slightest mis-step on the minders’ part could see them and their entire families wind up in prison camps. It’s a kind of thoughtlessness that, at least in this person’s opinion, is in no way justified under the name of “fair and honest reporting” or “journalistic integrity.” It’s putting people’s lives at risk.

I have to say of many of the reports on north korea, this one is among the best. It gets straight to the point, shows us the country without judging it too harshly.

Good travel experience documented by Germans and in the German language. It is well made and the German is clear and understandable. My German is a little rusty so I wanted to point that out. They travel around and talk to people having interesting conversations and insights. It shows the changes in North Korea over recent years and also has commentary from German experts on North Korea. It’s nice to see a more neutral point of view on the country. Germans get treated differently than English speakers so this opens the door to more of this closed off country.

Seeing the last parts of the documentary, really gives me hope for NK people. I’ve seen so many documentaries about that country over the years and in that final bit the people dont seem so stiff like in any earlier films where everyone walks around like there are spies everywhere (which there are, ofc). Also I belive im just fooled by the laid-back acting, like the lady carrying the groceries is going through the back to put them back into the store, I really hope she brought that bag home, even if they are the most privilidged part of NK people.

The shots are pretty amazing considering the circumstances they were taken in.

As a south Korean It’s painful to see only through a western person’s eyes

My job as an engineering consultant brought me to quite a few communist ruled countries in my time, some times for months on end. What I learned there is that the capitol cities of all these countries were just Potemkin villages. Beyond the city boundaries, where tourists didn’t go, was a different country, one which wasn’t happy and colourful, where everything was rundown, where there were hardly any street lights, the streets broken, where people looked malnourished, their skin grey. I’m under no illusions that that’s what N. Korea is like beyond the city limits of its capitol.

I really like these DW documentaries. It was good to get an explanation of how the tour guides monitor each other.

These reporters were very irresponsible in recording their minders, grilling them, and then not even trying to blur their faces. It is obvious these reporters did not care for these people’s well being So sad…I really hope they are ok.

I love the way they show their experiences in so complex country

They shouldn’t ask guides provocative questions. It’s putting them at great risk.

Tolle Reportage… Gut gemacht mit Liebe zu Land und Menschen.

I’m amazed at how DW journalists have managed to hide their cameras while filming secretly at the same time all throughout their tour without being caught by their minders.

this documentary is pretty insightful but I’m really concerned about the tour guide and woman’s safety.

I feel so bad for those souls… Especially because my country was going through this for years and the dictator took North Korea as an example and tried to implement every sadistic detail here. Fortunately the people rioted and killed him…. But those people are so badly treated and they have no human rights!? We need to stop him somehow, they need to be treated as human beings! Not as pieces of meat. I am so angry because of this….

Landscapes wise, it looks like a beautiful country

An extremely interesting Documenary, finally not so lurid and judgmental, but objective and neutral. I also enjoyed how the doc took a largely anthropological view of the people, being fair in blaming the government rather than its citizens for caving to the pressures of a nationwide socialist cult.

I love all the documentary videos broadcast by DW Channel on YouTube. Really I am an ardent follower of DW documentaries. All videos are very interesting and informative for viewers like me. Long Live DW ! Thank you….. Anit Brahma from Assam, India.

So impressed with the young people and their talents. Way smarter than American young people. Excellent video. People are the same everywhere and just want to raise their families in peace.

absolutely incredible what an oprresed country can offer as a culture man, this guys have a very rich culture imagine if they werent opressed, what they could offer to the world

I think the identities of North Koreans who interacted with DW should not have revealed irrespective of their opinions rearding the regime.

The synthesizer they use for the voice over is really impressive. You’d almost think it’s a real person.

This documentary shows only what the regime wants visitors to see, i.e., Pyongyang and the ski resort. From books by North Koreans who escaped North Korea, the rest of the country is very poor. People live without enough food, without electricity, etc., in addition to fear of expressing an opinion against the government.

During your first visit you were seeing things through critical eyes, during your second visit you developed empathy as they were now someone you could relate to and things didn’t look as bad

An extremely interesting Documenary, finally not so lurid and judgmental, but objective and neutral. I also enjoyed how the doc took a largely anthropological view of the people, being fair in blaming the government rather than its citizens for caving to the pressures of a nationwide socialist cult.

Seeing the smiling excited older women, children, etc. who were even ready to high five a foreign runner was such a trip. I wonder in their minds if they really imagine people are traveling to the Pyongyang marathon because it’s a big tourist draw in the usual sense.

Thank you DW for these amazing documentaries! Totally for free!

have you thought about the repercussion of your work towards the two guides you met and you filmed? are them been considered responsible about letting you film? the video you made has been clearly seen in North Corea and i assume this created a lot of problems on the two tour guides…………i hope for you it doesn’t

I’m beginning to really want to visit the DPRK now… I visited the ROK almost 30 years ago and had a driver and a lovely guide show us around, and divert or distract us from the less impressive things like slums. She took us to the “Unification Tower” at the border, through military checkpoints, and I surveyed the neutral-zone across the river from a well maintained observation deck on a high hill called Odusan – and I wondered much about how such a thing had come to pass that such a proud people of one language, one culture, and one history could become so divided by something as crude as opposing political ideologies imposed upon them by opposing outside forces! After all, aren’t we all becoming more and more Socialist by the day in our free-market fueled Neo liberal democracies? Could each side compromise a little of its dogmas to facilitate a peaceful move towards reunification? Korea as one country could one day become a regional superpower… Perhaps preventing this is at least one reason for that arbitrary roadblock to accord, and common cause, that for so many decades now imposed its ugly barrier across the ancient peninsular on that 38th parallel.

I am a big fan of DW and some of the documentaries they have made are my all time favourites. It maintains the German quality and integrity. I presume that the Germans should know it better by now, how unification would work. Apart from the popularistic tabloid style stereotyping now and then – its a great video. Thank you Believing my way is the right way and only through me everyone will achieve salvation, is very much unfortunately a Christian western phenomen. Learn the eastern philosophy of “Live and let live!”

First of all ,as a korean (south),I am thankful to see this video. There are many thing to talk about this video,but one thing I want to point out. On the map shown,I saw it marked Sea of Japan, which is clearly East Sea. The issue of naming the sea on the world map is so important that we can reverse our history. Recognize how important the issue is and send it on air.

Iv seen pyongyang in 2019 june, been to the two monuments, the DMZ, manyongdae, the nuclear bunker like subway, friendship palace museum, the victory arch as well. I agree on your statement that how you talk to your guides, and seemingly they seem not to say what is really on their minds but somehow felt intimate. Our two lady guides were impeccable, they were with Koryo tour. Thank you much appreciate your documentary. It brought back fond memories. I was lucky our tour group took a train back to Shenyang, China from Pyongyang too

I’d love to go to North Korea for a visit. Even under 24HR surveillance. I’d follow all the rules, it just seems surreal.

Wow, how did you have such an intestinal issue and still run a marathon…..then a 4 hr bus ride and more activities…… you are very strong !!!! Great documentary I just hope no North Korean person got in trouble !

Thanks to DW for another honest and clear report. I love you for that!

Reunification has not worked well for Hong Kong. North Korea is a dictatorial communist nation, it is NOT socialist.

I was born in socialistic federative republic yugoslavia, I was pioneer too, we also had such activities, and on Tito ‘s birthday there was always this dance and choreography with all young people. Even the architecture somewhat. There was something easy and peacefull living in those times.

“Plastic flowers that brought back to the stand to be sold again.” Thats actually a pretty good idea lol.

I am surprised how open was that museum guide towards them…stating that the south koreans have a higher standard of life and even pointing at her clothes like “i mean…look at me and how I look” …I just hope that nobody got in trouble after those discussions.

It’s emotional how the 2 country’s share the same theme song and really want to reconnect.

This country looks like a gigantic stage where all its actors are trained from the moment they are born .

As South Korean, it gives me the hope that I could also visit there, someday.

I went to South Korea several times; a nice country that’s ran by the numbers (strict). The people like most people anywhere were very nice, friendly, and energetic. GOD bless ’em.

I am concerned about every North Korean you filmed, and the guides, they may be interrogated, and their families affected. It’s interesting, but think about the number of North Koreans you have put at risk. It would have been better to have the journalists anonymous and any conversations with North Koreans hidden and voice disguised. I understand you both took great risk doing this. And with the provocative questions to try and get them to tell their opinion about the truth….risking the North Korean’s lives. I recommend either deleting this video or re-editing to take out your names…you are lists there and it will be easy for their govt to look up the guides.

The Arirang stuff was pretty interesting because in America (or at least in my state) most high school choir classes sing the song for choir competitions, myself included. I didn’t realize how much influence the song had. It was one of my favorite songs from choir.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you threaten people’s lives 🙁

Finally something that approaches objective reporting on North Korea; especially US “documentaries” are mostly western propaganda, qualitatively better done but ultimately on par with North Korean indoctrination. Glad I found this one. And Germans also can relate to walls, different economic systems and a separated country on a much deeper level than anyone else.

Now that was an amazing documentary. Truly amazing

Yes, amazing documentary considering the conditions in which it was filmed.

If you consumed coffee, tea, or anything which used water from the tanks on the plane and/or from the kettles on the flight your gastrointestinal issue is easily explained. My enitre trip to NY was spent in the apartment because I had coffee on my flight. Never again. Great reporting. Although I would not have exposed my guides. Despite your filming in total secrecy, they could face punishment for not discovering your devices and methods. Cheers!

The one part of his story I don’t find believable is covering the blinking light on the camera with black tape. Everyone’s devices are inspected closely multiple times (especially cameras and phones) and find it hard to believe no one noticed a patch of tape regardless of what color it is. Otherwise excellent journalism and very brave to go ahead with a risky project like this.

really love your documentaries!

I’m so happy I found this YouTube channel, such great content.

I feel as though the identities of the guides should have been protected. This seems irresponsible to me.

I was quite skeptical at the beginning of the video, assuming this would be another western propaganda flix but it turned out to be quite good and objective. Well done!

Could you imagine the Olympics being held in North Korea? They would totally nail the opening/closing ceremonies.

I do feel his pain about the Gastro intestinal issues that’s why I can’t travel because no matter what I eat I always have issues and it sucks so bad when you want to go to different places and try different things.

I can appreciate the fact that this journalism was respectful and done well even though you did expose some North Koreans identities atleast you didnt put up any that went against the regime I am sure this painted this country in as good a light as you could…..

I’m so very glad I won the birth lottery and was born in the USA!

Thank you DW Documentaries for this really awesome piece. I am addicted to NK documentaries and yours are my favorite. p.s. I am very curious on the hidden camera used in filming this docu. A very good quality camera

I hope the guides don’t get punished for the secret recordings of the these journalists.

I’m curious if those guides would have been penalized for “allowing” themselves to be filmed undercover.

Just imagine how hardly to make this film with strictly regulations in North Korea. You must be so brave too to publish this documentary. Two thumbs up

Thank you for this documentary!

This is amazing documentary!

For taking this much risk , This documentary needs more views

this documentary is very informative – but you put every life that you have talked about IN DANGER even the four year old who watched disney . you couldn’t even hide any faces .. ??

The image of that little girl waving throughout the documentary and at the end is heartwarming

memories of my time in Myanmar, 1995, just 9 months after foreigners were allowed to travel independantly. It was the only time a person had to touch my skin, for she had never seen a white person. That is a memory I treasure and too few will ever experience as well.

This was very beautifully done

Its extremely unprofessional and inconsiderate for you to upload this footage without properly keeping the guides anonymous. Their lives are in jeopardy, their children’s lives, and their grandchildren.

Thanks for this documentary !

I’m surprised that the juche museum guide admitted that the south has a higher standard of living

love north korea landscape and its beautiful people.

Thank you for this it opened my eyes I had no idea now I really want to help these people some way to break free if only in my prayers.

Awesome documentary! Thank you so much!

My world view is shaped by the country I live in just as much as the North Korean peoples view. I envy the sense of community I see in the staged version of North Korea. I wonder just what the truth is about the world we live in is.

I fear for the lives of the poor individuals they were filming. They kept on leading their conversations into politics, for sure NK officials will get to see this video.

Very impressed that you were able to run the marathon while holding a camera, and after your accident on the escalator.

A beautiful representation of the hermit Kingdom and the committed hard working ppl.

From the US to Russia, I’ve seen many ideologies across many continents, and each appears as divisive as any other. They serve to indoctrinate a contrived belief system, and each denounces dissidents in an equally aggressive manner.

The North Korean museum lady who spoke the best English among the other North Koreans in this video: “Sorry for my poor English.”

They’ve actually improved restrictions and quality of life for the people A LOT over the last 6-7yrs. I have a feeling it’s due to all the secret journo work like this being posted on the internet. In the last decade alone the rest of the world’s understanding of N.Korea has increased tremendously thanks Internet and brave Journo’s

Fascinating! Good documentary, thank you. Though worried about exposure for the poor “guides” now.

We traveled to North Korea without leaving our home. That festival was breathtaking, it’s a shame that it’s almost completely hidden from the rest of the world. So spectacular, so much discipline, absolutely beautiful.

The first guide that was later replaced by a different guide the next night, was actually executed (unintentionally on the journalists part of course) because he (the guide) was never asked a question like that before in his life and started genuinely questioning his life. The government disposed of him before he could start having any “bright idea’s”.

Borders drawn up by men who are some type of authority in other country’s militaries is the #1 reason for so much instability and war in the world. These borders should be defined by the people who inhabit the lands, not by foreign governments or their representatives.

Great really nice to see some normal footage of North Koreans like most countrys we have more in common than not

so well done! WOW!!!

I’m not being rude or anything. But I think you should censor someone’s face when they talk about something that is have nothing to do with the government’s system. Keep it in mind, they have a horrible system in their prison. Where the next 3 generations will be punished severely by forced labor regardless if their next 3 generations are innocent.

Love DW documentaries but I have a real problem with you pushing these people to discuss sensitive topics and then publishing their responses for the world (and almost certainly the NK regime) to see.

God Bless these people! I can’t imagine the magnitude of what North Koreans live.

Liked it before even watching it! Love anything to do with this bizarre and backward place

Since the “welcome to north korea “(2000) I have watched every single one .It’s interesting to notice that the first few documentaries had always only shots on grey n rainy days like the courtyard was always gloomy and sad which is not the case at least weather n nature wise

This man is too brave, he is literally filming in THE North Korea

Great DW Documentary!

Amazing this documentary but he should have blurred the faces of the people for their own safety. NK puts on some spectacular shows, the people come across as friendly but because we have been conditioned to be suspicious of the country, you never know if their friendliness is genuine or not. Still, they look like they are making gradual progress but i think it is going to be another 100 years before the country stops looking like a 1970s James Bond movie.

I lived in South Korea for 10 years, teaching university. I don’t think foreigners who travel to North Korea understand what they are doing to the people there. The official propoganda is that foreigners are coming to North Korea to learn about the wisdom of their dear leader. Then these foreigners think they are so smart by asking questions that make the people they are asking very uncomfortable. Can you imagine how much stress they are under? If they answer incorrectly, they “disappear.”. Are you sure that the guide you were asking question of simply decided he didn’t want to be around you when he was replaced? For all you know, he could have been forced to wear a wire and was sent to a prison camp when he answered your questions “incorrectly”. By traveling there, you are also putting money into the hands of a brutal regime. Yes, I am curious about North Korea, having lived in the South for 10 years. However, I think it is completely unethical to travel to North Korea.

The biggest curse is not poverty but lack of freedom.

I really hope the people unknowingly being recorded weren’t harmed. NK watches what the Weat says about it they will absolutely blame the guides for not being vigilant enough

Fascinating. “Have you ever bowed down to a statue wearing a Parka?” No. I’ve never bowed down to a statue, full stop! I love how people there (and in the “free world”) bandy about the word “Socialism!”and misapply it. Totalian Dictatorship, more like. And, a family dynasty to boot. I can’t see how passing control of your country to your heirs counts as “Socialism!” That’s something the Royal Families of Europe used to do, some still do, although whether they have any control of said countries, is debatable.

I love these documentaries but wish there was subbing instead of dubbing

In the grand scheme of things, it’s interesting how Asian nations embraced a European political philosophy instead of shunning it like they did colonialism.

The woman in the museum talking about economies and that South Korea has a higher living standard…Really hope she didn’t get into trouble for that.

DW rules 🙂 awesome doc as always

All the guides were so nice it would be hard not to have liked them. They said nothing negative about NK only avoided questions . I doubt they would have got in any trouble. I was surprised the guide in the museum mentioned other religions or SK living standards. She did it because she is allowed to so that she can do her job well. Her English was excellent. If they have employee of the month I’m sure she is on the wall 🙂

I will give it to this dictatorships. They offer us other perspectives of what the human animal is capable of. The good and bad. Otherwise, I still prefer democracy and the illusion of individual freedom and free will. Well done DW. Your work is really full of insight. You delve deep and take risks to expose this things about human kind. Love it.

7:16 “We wanted to leave the country in one piece.” The difference here is, unlike the people you recklessly filmed UNCENSORED, you can leave.

I truly don’t know, like many of us on this part of the world, what really is going on in North Korea. In any case what I see is a very strong developed society, even though doesn’t look like that to many of us. The big difference that I can notice is that this is not a third world country trying to go ahead in a very competitive and unfair world. They are very proud of what they have achieved and they are convinced that the only way to keep it, is to make sure that the plagues that are destroying ourselves are not getting in there. Let just think about our ways for a minute. Do you think your self entitled neighbour should have a say on how to run your community?. Still you might have some politicians destroying your way of life,like they do to us on a regular basis, but yet in that system you know that any corrupt way will be harshly managed; not something that you and me would see in our societies. In all fairness I don’t truly know if this system is better than ours, yet and don’t see people living on the streets or mentally derailed persons being neglected. I do not live there and I never been there, and still I have the feeling that we should look at them with different eyes. Greetings from Toronto.

It was the music for me, it was driving me crazy just listening to it throughout this video imagine if I live there and I have to listen to it every day i would run mad I feel like I was tucked back in time, I was born on a small island, which I am so appreciated of it because it could’ve been worse like North Korea or any other country that is like this

People across globe are always so interested to know about north korea and i believe this is one of the best documentary

It looks like everyone all happy & waving and happy a good time. Looks fun. I want to join the parade

i feel sorry for those people, their lives have been stolen from them.

If you have seen one video about visiting NK, you have seen them all. Same statue, hotel, street, museum, Subway, train, DMZ, Arrirang parade. Only the guides are sometimes different.

Looks like an amazing place! I want to go there on my vacation

He has pretty big balls, to be recording against orders of the state and than return hahaha

SEEMS YOU HAD A WONDERFULL TRIP, ALL OF YOUR FOLLOWERS ALL GAVE VERY GOOD COMMENTS, SEEMS NORTH KOREA IS A MODEL UTOPIA FOR GERMANY AND THE WHOLE WORLD TO STRIVE TO BECOME !!!

How anyone would think this is a documentary is beyond me

I would love to take a week long tour of the DPRK. I am American though, and I am pretty sure we are not allowed to travel there still, a travel ban set in place in 2017.

Well…you did a very good job there ! Respects and wait for the next one 🙂

You may have felt you were bringing up valid points by showing the flaws in their thinking, but in reality, the only thing you accomplished was getting people just trying to get by, in a lot of trouble.

I do have to say that some of the buildings look nice and the art of music, painting, dancing and etc even though North Korea is such a terrible place to live in. The poor people living there :/

How could the rest of the world allow for a government like this to thrive at the expense of its people?

Very beautifully made. Love from India.

This is the best video Footage regarding North Korea I’ve ever seen. Bravo

Fascinating footage, but very irresponsible to show the people’s faces! Especially when asking such delicate political questions!

There is NO reason for anybody to go to nk. Just the fact that some innocent may end up in a gulag for being on film is reason enough.

As always, the problems are at the top level. The ” common folks” are just the tools needed to keep the “machine” oiled and operating. Bless the “little people” for they are NOT the problem.

Damned, looks like the Soviet Union in the 80s! Stuck in time, stuck in a war that on paper still goes on (despite having been over for over 50 years!)

Very well made doc!

How dare these people risk the lives of North Korean citizens by pressing them on extremely sensitive issues AND have the nerve to show their faces… “don’t even whisper because the birds might hear you.” That’s what they say in that country. Incredibly unfair.

It’s a dull, empty looking city, but the big benefit is there are hardly any traffic jams with such big roads. 🙂

Apart from an ad every 5-6min, this is a great documentary!

If only the people knew the freedoms and peace and success they were being denied by Kim Jong-un, the regime would not last a year.

An old American saying -“believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see”

i really don’t feel like the spectators were forced to be there. if my country was really strict on foreigners but had an event where foreigners could come and run i’d show up too

As much as i like the insight, this documentation really troubles me… i think its no question that some of the people and guides got in serious trouble after this, that’s not even a question for me. The question is ….. where the troubles that severe that it will cause them harm to there health and even physical well being ….. I hope all are fine….

This is the first time I hear someone dare to speak of their truthful thoughts.( lady in museum).

I don’t think it’s good to secretly interrogate these people and then get them into trouble

Wow this feels like something from science fiction or a parallel universe or even from another planet

Couldn’t think of anything worse than running a marathon then immediately being stuck on a bus for 4 hours.

Being a Korean War Veteran and travel enthusiast having traveled to China and Japan many times would like to know more about North Korea they’re now a nuke power like US, Russia, China , perhaps Iran, Pakistan & India .

I like how you covered them with tact and respect… Unlike the ‘mericans who snuck in cameras there.

Had you guys ever thought about the consequences of filming the faces of these tour conductors .This could be a disaster for them and their families.

These people are living their lives and they seem genuinely happy to me. Actually, they do not know how happy they are. While western youth can choose between drugs, alcohol, and gangs, their young people are getting educated and learning to play instruments. Just leave them alone and keep your “values” for yourself, they are better off without them.

None of this footage is “illegal,” literally thousands of tourists film the same stuff every year.

Maybe this is a silly question but are Disney films even allowed in North Korea? I was surprised at that part.

i am the laziest person i know, yet you motivated me to consider preparing for a marathon.. besides that, amazing insights about this forbiddingly fascinating country.. 10/10

The children made it look easy because that’s all they do. Under dictator gov, you are forced to abide and follow the rules. As a reporter, you see what they want you to see. I lived in a communist country. If you were to have a N. Korean young woman standing next to a S. Korean woman, you will see the differ

Thanks DW documentary … U guys are awesome ..thanks …

Thank you for your bravery.

These are rare footages that one can get in North Korea, I am glad I can watch it.

Nice Documentary… Brave… Being in NK even scare me in my own Dream…

This reminds me of the book 1984 by George Orwell. I highly recommend reading it. North Korea is so similar to Oceania

“I belive in myself” is how I will answer from now on, when I´m asked in what religion i believe in. That was a good one. hahaha

The tour guide in the green shirt is the most wholesome person ive seen in the documen

very good documentary DW

Great video and great translation to English.

I really like the lack of advertising… it seems pure and calming

My 2 cents here: 1) After personally seeing US military hardware. I find it absolutely amazing that these hardwares are still being used. 2)@34:41 DHL? Seriously? I knew they deliver to North Korea (Files only) but advertising eh?

As an American, I am really obsessed with watching news reports and documentaries about North Korea, but I really feel sad that the people there are really oppressed.

Honestly, the displays of the children performing arts etc. made me cry. Just think about the amount of pain and force they went through. All the kinds of abuse. So sad.

I served in Korea 1972 and I traveled around S Korea but my buddies made a pack that if we got captured we would chose death before capture. The ROK troops were very hard and In Vietnam were considered one of the toughest. The treatment that the American boy that died abt 3 years ago does not surprise me. I was right next to the China Sea and there were land mines on the beach, barbed wire next more land mines, more wire and then the ROK’s with there gun emplacements. he North would land squads on the beaches and infiltrate’s the mines, wire and ROK’s. The ROK’s I respected. There training was not tp far from my location. I’d love to Visit but I can not fly. If I could the North would not be on my Itinerary!!!!

It’s sad to know that everybody recorded most likely got executed. And you guys still decided to release the footage especially with no type of identity protection for the victims. Privilege 101

Incredible piece.

This is so ballsy. Respect.

North Korea could solve their problems if they declared a cessation to hostilities to South Korea to officially end the war. And on top of that, seek discussions on reunification under a single United States of Korea. And no country could stop them talking about it, that includes China and America. Europe would support the move and the other ASEAN countries would agree.

Did their guide really speak perfect German? That’s what it sounded like to me. I’d love to know how they learned foreign languages in this regime.

North Korea rises above arts and artistic talent no country in the world could ever compete. They might not win over war, but in arts, wow! They are the world’s finest.

“Don’t point at the statue” he says, pointing at the statue.

The only positive thing I can take from North Korea after watching so many of these videos is the fact that the women still wear the traditional Hanbok outfit a lot. Which I like. South only wears it on national holidays, weddings and stuff.

At that festival in the arena, I thought that was a screen in the background. But kids with cards? Insane! 😮

For the most part, the ppl of N Korea appear to be very healthy, mentally and physically. But I’m sure all’s I saw here were the ppl there who had money. I’d love to see a documentary of the other side of N Korea. Liked the documentary though. Very well thought out.

the street is very clean. the subway looks just like S-Bahn and U7 in berlin， I like it. nice footage

Thank You for this very detailed and interesting documentation.

North Korea, a nation that will exhaust half it’s fuel supplies for a parade to show around a few tourists that it doesn’t suck.

At least North Koreans DNA don’t have a lot of ego and are kind and respectful. I find the same kindness in Pakistan . I am not here to judge north Korean People, nor the regime. I am here to admire and believe in their future of those who struggle will be the most comfortable ahead. Let’s get physical.

“South Korea can remain capitalist and we can still be socialist. But both united”. Very interresting idea of the unity you got there, my fella. I haven’t heard such nonsense for a long time now.

Lmao the narrarator says he “only scratched the surface” but in reality he didn’t even do that. He saw everything the North Korean government wanted him to see. He didn’t see anything that wasn’t meant for him to be seen. That’s not scratching the surface. That’s taking a propaganda tour around Pyongyang. It’s literally the equivalent of me taking this guy to Beverly Hills and forcing him to stay only in Beverley Hills where all the super rich people are and then him saying “I really scratched the surface and understand how Americans live.”

Great documentary, thank you for uploading it! It’s so weird when you speak german and can understand what they’re saying but the english translation is spoken over it haha

It somehow surprises me that people in NK do know what’s actually going on

this seems like the best DPRK video I have seen. Thank you from the State of Virginia in USA

Whatching this video reminded me my life in the USSR. I really hope that North Korean regime will fall down one day like it happened with my country and those people will be free.

We are just gonna glance back over the fact this man came back to Pyongyang to run Marathon and get more footage. Talk about dedication!

Wow. This is like the whole new world to us from the West.

Beautiful country. I love how they protect their society from these evil occidental influences. That’s why they never have to debate if M and W are different

I am obsessed with North Korean documentaries

I DK why I thought the flowers being resold was genius.. sounds like a city kids hustle I would have done growing up in Philly

Thank you sir for “enlightening beautiful world around us”

These folks were lucky to escape with their lives. If the N. Koreans had discovered they were videotaping, they would have been thrown in a concentration camp. And you can bet that once they saw these tapes, the N. Koreans rounded up all their citizens and imprisoned them. BTW, I have been to N. Korea myself, and quickly learned to watch my back.

Amazing insightful documentary, North Korea looks amazing very talented kids. May Allah Bless DPRK. DW very good doc.

I wonder what happens to the guides once people like these guys have left and uploaded their story on North Korea. I assume they’re given some level of punishment.

I feel bad for the guides. They are just doing their work, they are not doing anything wrong, just trying to live peacefully. Why ask them uncomfortable questions??

I want to visit NK one time before I die

Fyi those scratches on the subway window weren’t made by trying to remove graffiti. That’s someone who actually scratched their tag into the window.

I kind of wanna go there now…

It’s really disturbing to see this people who are brainwashed by their govt. And you can also feel that they want help but they cannot speak their minds. I hope unification will arrive and abolish this communist country.

I feel for the poor people suffering in NK. Little to no food. No TV movies. No electricity. No hot water. My hearts aches for them.

it will be a difficult to reunite the two koreas cause most of south koreans especially the younger generations doesn’t want it

I wonder if they realize their lives is a facade or they know there are others that realy perish of hunger on their own country. Perhaps they know, but they don’t even care.

Got to respect my man who risked his life for YouTube

I can never get over how clean everything looks but I guess with fear hanging over you you are going to clean up.

It is very difficult to bring something new from North Korea if they do not let you go anywhere.

It is nice to see DW sharing this investigative report. NK in an enigma within an enigma but the war in the 1950-53 still has tentacles far reaching into Asia – Europe – America. We will see!

Showing the faces of guides surely sent them to their deaths. I understand the intent but the creators of this video should be ashamed. There is most certainly blood on your hands.

I think DW were extremely irresponsible regarding the people they filmed and spoke with. It may be about making a documentary (and money) for you, DW, but you put peoples lives at risk with your pointed questions, and complete disregard for safeguarding the identities of the people you filmed. Even more so, considering these people didn’t know they were being filmed.

Excellent work

I mean it mustn’t be that bad to live in Pyongyang, if you live there you are are probably privileged and have a nice life working for the government lol

If a DPRK citizen were to tour Germany, how many guard dogs, how many cameras and how many listening stations would follow him?

After watching this documentary one thing I can surely tell that the country is very clean no garbage seen anywhere neat n clean everywhere

that’s the 10th north korea documentary i’m watching and it’s still interesting

The moment you step a foot into NK, it’s all a big show. Sure there are some raw moments, but largely it’s all coordinated.

I agree with many other comments on the possible problems that filmed guides can occur. I hope they stay safe after the NK police have seen this video. Anyway could you tell me which device you were using to not be seen recording? Thank you

Lols at the whole bus to themselves. I suspect that their polite hosts knew exactly what they were up to.

Wow, quite impressive.

If you feel so much for those poor people, can you tell me what did they do to USA ,Britain ,and Australia In order to deserve their nation suffer the most severe sanctions for decades !?!

I really like your documentary. fantastic. I wish both country reunited become Korea empire

The only way the two would be reunited is if South Korea gives up socialism and SK gives up and becomes reunited with the North under Kim’s rule. Doubt the North under the Kim family would want to give up rule to go be reunited with the South.

A very creepy display of how people are the same regardless of where we’re from, but politicians are just as greedy as anywhere.

For the first time I saw something on North Korea which seems to be balanced. Otherwise, it is either all very bad or all very good – both impossibilities.

The Russians clearly helped them build their subway stations. They look identical to those in Moscow.

I was on a trip to North Korea two years ago for 7 days with a company called Lupine travel and it was awesome, the most interesting and strange place i have ever been. We attended the Mass games opening ceremony and saw Kim Jong Un in real life from 50-60 meters 🙂 I really enjoyed the trip, the program was intense and we had the chance to see almost the whole country, not only Pyongyang, but Wonsan, Kaesong, the DMZ, mountains and a lot of countryside. I have only good memories and definitely will visit at least one more time, i highly recommend visiting it, you will love it if you like those kind of destinations 😉

at least they are allowed to “know and admit” that South Korea has a way higher living standard.

undeniably, their city is very clean and green

It was like watching an episode of The Twilight Zone, except this is real life for N. Koreans.

If they had been captured I have no doubt the risk they took would not have been worth spending time in prison or being executed.

My father’s hometown is Geumseong-ri, Donghae-myeon, Gilju-gun, North Hamgyeongbuk-do, North Korea When we are unified, the first thing I want to do is run to my hometown

Did you know that you’re actually forced to go to the military in North Korea at 17 but you have to live in North Korea

Despite all the sanction this country still exist …Kudos To Kims..

You missed the pleasure palace or watever it’s called, I wonder what some of those people would have to say if they felt safe for once!

I think i couldn’t bring the flowers to tyrants in any of their imagery form. But your risk with videorecording is honorable

This is amazing. And also, how cool is it that he ran a marathon in North Korea!!??

As a South Korean this is pretty shocking lol

The quality of this documentary is over shadowed by the journalist’s complete inconsideration for the real life consequences of these subjects. This is especially infuriating considering that the subjects were unknowingly recorded. How do you sleep at night in the comfort of your homes knowing that you took no precautions to protect them from your own sneaky reporting? The journalists casually dismiss the exposure while simultaneously discussing injustices that they themselves do not have to live with. Absolutely disgusting ethics.

Technically you’re given the view of what they want you to see and not what you want to see. If North Korea wants visitors they should allow some freedom of visitors movements. North and South will never reunify because it could never work

Pyongyang looks like Warsaw in the 1970’s.

I understand why people are saying that blurring their faces and protecting their identities would have been good for them, but honestly I don’t think it would make a difference. Either way it wouldn’t be hard to find out who the guides had been. Or lets say the woman at the museum who said that South Korea is more developed had had her identity protected, you don’t think that actions would have been pulled against all workers at the museum until they found out who had actually said what?

Feels like watching a movie about the leader who removed everyone’s mind and they all the residence did this everyday show in case a tourist come to visit. I meant , look at them, seems everyone has their role. I watched another youtube and most of them showed the same things.

The guard will be my passport and every other document I need to go wherever I want. He’ll be like my key that opens every door lol. Sadly I can’t put him in my pocket though. 🙁 At least I can bully the guard and always leave my room just to make him walk. 😀

My grandpa said one time, he was working next door to North Korea. He said he saw guards forcing prisoners to ride a pogo stick across minefields

NORTH KOREA ARE SO LIKE THE 1950’s WOULD LIKE TO VISIT TO FEEL HOW IS LIKE BEING IN THE 50s

Documenting a week-long potemkin village visit doesn’t qualify as journalism unless you make it clear that you are documenting the potemkin village , not a real village.

The lady in the museum was so cute Please blur her face, she might get in trouble after this

It’s obvious that they can shoot videos freely, but it’s very despicable that they sometimes position the camera as if they can only use it secretly.

As long as America does not always try to topple other regimes, lives will be totally different.

Seems like a nice place to go for a holiday…

Really should have censored the faces of the people you spoke to. Even seemingly benign statements could be seen as sedition if shown on western media.

they look like to live in the past, old cars, and give an aspect of loneliness, I hope someday it can change. I hope even for china change, it far from the same as North Korea but the new leader it’s downgrading the country as well

You felt you left knowing less than you had when you just arrived, because you came with a full head of own assumptions and failed to confirm on most of them following the predefined agenda

The chubby tour guide half way through this podcast seems to be quite nice. These people are all brainwashed so what else can they do but bow and try to keep some dignity.

The country is hard that you can’t even think of how hard it’s to live there.

Good documentary and such a sad story about humanity. If I would believe in God I would say “God bless Europe”! We are so lucky!

I very sure that the NK government was the first one to dislike the video, after writing down each one of the interviewees.

You should have blurred your guides faces. Those guides and their families have likely disappeared since the upload of this video. This is likely due to the failure to prevent the “spying” on their country.

I wish all Democratic countries keeping aside their personal interests in the world could liberate North Korea.

The US bombed North Korea after North Korea invaded South Korea and the United Nations issued a resolution calling on all nations to provide military aid and support to South Korea. I hate when these documentaries focus on US military activities without providing context. It makes America sound aggressive and warlike.

I wish my commute to work was on North Korean roads ! No traffic no rush

I wonder if the lady talking about religion got into trouble. She got very nervous sounding when they tried to talk politics with her and wisely claimed ignorance. The marathon seems rather like the Olympics in most countries in that a place is set up specifically for the event and everyone involved is artificially recruited .

North Korea and South Korea need to be united.

Kim should really hire new architects, perhaps send them to study in china or something lol

I know of Arirang due to bts performing it… they made it sort of like their own and since the 7 members came from 5 different provinces it was even amazing to hear!

Even covid19 is afraid to enter north korea

And the guide must be death by now, thanks to you DW. you’re not sensitive to show other faces when you know their live is in danger.

Pyongyang only allows privileged class to live there. If possible, it is better to visit other places to grasp ideas about how life is there in NK. People who have experience living in DDR, USSR, China before 90s understand it better what is going on there.

We can say this was very amazing to see children’s all together doing all kind of biutiful dance, drawing, playing music etc! But we didn’t saw no no but I imagine they are forbidden like a lot of secret sleeping in North Korea 🇰🇵 but nevertheless the trip that you made was fascinating What kind of food exactly people eat in there! It seems that everything is planned all the time every day people repeat the same things not so different from us but in the opposite direction of a strict and always calculated life by a dictatorial regime! Fact not like our life in Canada 🇨🇦 but people seems happy for what they have not like us who are not very satisfied about politics and rules but we are free to say: «  NO or YES » At the end of the day this was an unique trip in a life time! Well done another time! Good journalist do always very nice work wich I like to much for you! Best Regards!️ Forget to say > Bravo for the race and your endurance! Well you’re very in a good shape at the time! Interesting race without water at the end!️️

CREEEEeeeEEEPY How they have so many people looking exactly the same doing the exact same movements. It really hit with the musicians, they made them all even bob their head and movements that are usually just natural movements based on their ‘feeling’ the music and/or concentration into a unison scripted series of movements meant to keep the installation of conformity even amongst the most freedom inspiring and expressive form of human skill: Arts and Music. Creeped me out.

they really need help for some new roads as all of them seem to be in a really bad condition.

Wow, That’s pretty gutsy risking getting caught and spending the rest of your lives in a North Korean prison. You do realize that’s considered spying?

I really hope that lady at the museum wasn’t killed for saying that South Korea has a higher living standard. I think you should be careful what footage you show of North Koreans, they could face very serious repercussions for saying anything that goes against what North Korea wants them to say. That’s why most are too scared to even speak, let alone as openly as the woman at the museum.

It looks so very clean? And the plant life and trees look so beautiful

Thank you for risking your life recording this but you could’ve at least blurred out the guider face because after you leave and this video gets seen by the north Korean government they will executed the guiders on the behalf of you and also you probably cant go back their

Almighty God please bless and protect these innocent people. In your name we pray, amen.

That part with the guide leaving really gives me vibes of “Kim Jong-Un has invited you to lake laogai”

I thought that in the story of Otto Warmbier, he did a phonomenal error ! Didn’t he know that what is forbidden in North Korea in punishable of death, torture and so on ? I’m not saying it’s his fault but everybody knows that it is terribly dangerous to overcome laws !!!

A nice video! From this video, let us know the real world.

I saw a NK mother holding her baby in the audience at the Ari Rong festival and couldn’t help thinking that that baby is as free as she/he will ever be, since a baby can’t choose to obey or disobey the dictates of the state. I feel sad for the people. The communist leadership can delay the inevitable, and they have for three generations, but when the revolt happens, it is going to be epic!

That comment about how their minders children were so similar because they both liked Disney films is total crap. Sure those party officials and minders live the good life, but the other 99% of the country is in total poverty.

Thanks for this. I was running out of NK documentaries/footage to watch.

yes , filming the guides and asking them questions, you might just sent them to prison

Ok that’s probably the best docco re insights into N Korea.. I actually really wanna visit.. curiosity is smokin this cat…

Flawed yes…on a LOT of levels but so is pretty much every country and each one always claims they’re the best nation therefore the more I learn about N. Korea, the less I dislike them for simply wanting to be left alone and not part of the world of consumerism. I do think some major changes in leadership are needed to allow more freedom for the citizens and less of the severe punishment for minor infractions but looking past the negatives, N Korea is a very beautiful country as are it’s people and I hope one day, they’ll see more positive changes, especially for those who struggle the most none of these documentaries show.

Das beeindruckenste ist dass der Koreaner Deutsch kann.. 😮 Respect!

As interviewer you need to be careful what questions you ask people, when you do not plan to block out their face…. Cause you return to your country safe when they are left to battle the demons you created….

They card screen was impressive af.

I feel the girl comparing democracy and theirs. If i have a chance to run a government i will do same as Kim.

How on earth can you secretly film people in a place like North Korea, and then show their faces? Please tell us you thought about this! You are responsible if any of these people get killed or “disappear”

DW can’t be so gullible to assume that NK authorities aren’t aware about the identity of those two guests.

It’s scarry how humans are easily controlled and conditioned. I mean we all are to some extent.

Who the hell in their right mind would go to North Korea

I am a socialist and I personally do hope that democratic socialism prevails in North Korea overthrowing the authoritarian socialism

You have put all those people at risk

Tbh unifying N and S Korea as socialist and capitalist is literally the United States in a much more unrealistic point of view

i assume they never found your hidden camera cos you certainly wouldent be here now to tell the tale! You are truly one lucky man!

This is the future that “Green” EU wants for all of us.

Why everything that is either implemented/practiced there by commoners with or without force by the government makes no sense.

Mr. Warmbier did not fare too well in North Korea. He was sent home in a coma to die.

If I never hear 아리랑, or 반갑습니다 ever again I’d be happy, I swear that’s the only two songs allowed in DPRK.

They both sing Arirang but south Koreans treat Northern defectors terribly, which is very very strange to me. They are denied jobs, housing, and discriminated against on the streets. You’d think that SK people would be welcoming and empathetic to their cousins that risked everything to be free.

Obviously socialism works great for some who never want to have free agency in their lives.I just wish they would let people who are unhappy leave as long as they send back payments to compensate the state for their education.

Growing old happens to…be eager watching a nice German romantic comedy on TV and…fall asleep, having no more sleep early in the morning, willing to watch the teli on web because we have cyber friendships to join us and…share prayers for peace

its time for people around the world to help fellow north korean friends, These people are suffering their life and the worst part is that they did not do anything to deserve this. one psychopath dictator got into power and with fear he has brainwashed every north korean citizen, Even if the north korean people decided to stand up against this psychopath, He has no hesitation mass killing them cause he just does not care at all. Just imagine yourself in place of northkoreans.

having tens of thousands of people flipping cards for hours as part of a stadium display just goes to show how cheap human time(capital) is over there

IMO, NK has no issues with outsiders, rather it is the opposite. The world should leave them alone. They do neither bother nor threaten anyone. GOD only would free them from worshipping idolatry at the right time

The unfortunate children and adults in North Korea have no choice about their lives, or a chance to hear that Jesus left Heaven to die on the cross to pay for the wrongs that people had done so they could be assured of an eternal home in Heaven. Perhaps things will change for North Koreans . . . we will pray to that end.

When the Kim Regime collapses, I would love to go to North Korea. It’s because I am not willing to bow to a huge statue of an evil who made her people suffer for 70 years for her own good.

Can we take a sec to say that her english is richer than mine?

For the love of the Koreans who you asked difficult questions which they answered, take this down and reupload it with their faces blurred and voices distorted, you are putting them at great risk with having them shown in this documentary, they may even be dead by now because of this very documentary. Do you not understand this, you who went there and made this documentary?

11:45 This reminds me of Avatar The Last Airbender when the gang was in Ba Sing Se. Joo Dee was their guide. Imagine the next day they were like “Where’s Joo Dee?” and this new dude’s like “I’m Joo Dee” and everyone’s just standing there confused.

Poor people of the north. If you could only see how progressive South Korea is. I just hope you could all be reunited

Wow they really tried hard to make North Korea look bad. Just because people choose to live differently than us does not make them evil. I have not heard of North Korea invading any countries in recent history and in this day of satellite imaging/google maps I have yet to find a picture of the so called “death camps”. Just saying, make up your own mind about these issues… Beautiful people of North Korea God bless you!

The music is from Mononoke Hime <3 Miyazaki Sensei is the best.

Amazing propaganda… Fantastic documentary…

Its like their whole history is gone and the only thing left is after the Korean war. No temple, castle of tradition houses left…

Looks a lot better than my many trips to Los Angeles.

Successful people don’t become that way overnight .most people you see as a glance-wealth, a great career, purpose-is the result of hard work and hustle over time. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life..

Absolute presumptuousness. The Kims made themselves gods.

This was a very selfish thing to do. You should’ve covered the faces & hidden the voices of the guides and so on. I’m pretty sure all the people recorded are now dead, in prison or in a camp of some kind. And their families too. You pretty much backstabbed these kind and brave people.

How neat a parade of antique weaponry!

I wonder how the first woman said that the south had higher living conditon and more developed than the north although she is an north korean. She wasn’t scared to talk about that topic, did she ?

Please censor people’s personal information and images if they haven’t proactively given you their consent to use them for your own purposes – especially if these people reside in countries in which human rights are being violated, such as DPR Korea. North Korean Ministry of State Security is tasked to investigate on potential crimes against the government and the Kim family – and they would classify this information sharing as a criminal act done by the North Korean citizens you have involved. It puts these involved North Koreans AND their entire families at risk and might even lead to them being killed by government. In that, it’s comparable to our German Stasi (Staatssicherheit, 1950-1990) back then, although it’s not 100% the same context. I’m half-German myself. North Korean State Security does have access to regular internet – on top of the North Korean internet/intranet Kwangmyong – and can access this documentary of yours. For future purposes, please censor North Koreans’ identity to protect them and their families. Most of us who aren’t living under a totalitarian dictatorship can only imagine what punishment by State Security would look like. But we can all agree in that we should all take responsibility to protect people and their families the best way we can if we actually have a choice – and in this context, you do have the choice to censor personal information.

They give so much respect to their traditional art and culture …. May communism is not good, but their nationalism soul is very good

The d marking is quite interesting to be in a northkorean stadium

It good to see the usual rare glimpse reach the 100000 mark.

The bravest part was when he admitted he crapped himself

I wouldn’t survive a day there. My anger and defiance would immediately take over !

“In South Korea they care about money.. In North Korea we care about leader.. his money!”

A marathon in North Korea!!!!!’ . Contestants are probably told at the beginning that you can compete and you can even run but you CANNONT win. And no doubt they sabotage the contestants beforehand. As you can see they gave the guy food poisoning and probably 20 others. I wouldn’t be surprised if they have booby traps placed along the route and have signs pointing the wrong way to confuse the runners. And if a foreigner does happen to win , or dare to, I should say. They have a contingency for that too. They would be arrested for cheating and charged with travelling without a permit and on the news they would say that he was a spy running though the countryside and was doing his best to sabotage the marathon to make DPRK look bad. The sad thing is that even though I am joking, if this were to happen; nobody would disbelieve it or so say no way that’s too outlandish It probably wouldn’t even shock anyone. RIP Otto Warmbier.

All those specialists about socialist countries know very little, unless you spent your life living in under socialism you will always have a hard time to understand it.

They should have blurred the faces of the guides. Shame on DW and the entire team. Endangering lives of innocent people just to make money. P.S. Those guides might be labor camps now

The music in the background prior to 3 minutes in is a remixed song from the Mononoke Home soundtrack lol

Great documentary! What the heck will they do with 40 year old military tech?

As a Chinese, I have mixed feeling watching this video. China used to be similar like North Korea before 1980s. That time whenever there’s a foreign visitor, we wanted to show our best to them and let them recognize us because we knew we were poor and somehow we felt inferior to foreigner. Usually foreigners were friendly but we knew in their mind they still did not accept China and were skeptical towards China. This emotion actually still somehow exists in China even now it’s much more developed than back then because we want foreigners especially the developed countries to accept and recognize our achievements. I feel this similar emotion in this video. The North Korea people want the journalist to accept and recognize them. They tried their best to be friendly. But the westerners are keeping a skeptical attitude as usual as how they would to a regime different to West, especially the one related to socialism. After all, no matter the difference between political regimes, I hope people of different cultures can be more open and accepting to each other.

I hope the people don’t get punished for being recorded, I think you’re putting their lives at stake

The black fishing between minutes 2 and 3 is ostentatious

Isn’t it wonderful how a people can go about their society without being constantly advertised to. No billboards or McDonalds adverts. How lovely. And to them that is just ‘normal’. Lovely.

Feel sorry for the poor people they are so brainwashed

That’s why India is best in world, anybody can do anyithing and anybody can d grade PM too..

nothing will stand against the change and freedom, time chages everything…

Wow the singers actually sounded pretty good, interesting!

The two Koreas cannot be together. Otherwise, the North Koreans will be belittled by the rich South. Just like East Germans remain second-class citizens in Germany for 30 years. Better to be the first among equals than the servant of wealthy relatives.

what a sad huge conglomerate of the lost Communist North Korean’s. The present day Canada is on our way to the same. We too have a Dictator who loves the Chinese system and said it publicly. Comrade Justin Trudeau 🙁

Please just let the north Koreans that you interact with do their jobs without trying to illicit a response from them which could potentially get them in a lot of trouble. we all know the narrative that they must promote, so it serves no purpose to ask them questions that are even remotely political. you’re not allowed to film with audio in the first place, and I appreciate your work, but putting the livelihoods of regular north koreans at risk for what we already know is upsetting.

Woman apologies for her poor english, infact she speak greater then present PM of India.

That country is treated so terribly heat the people are so kind and giving

9:54 North Korea insists on “peaceful” unification with one nation, one government, with two systems. How could we make the constitution then? Well, having the name of “D”(democratic lol)PRK doesn’t mean the democracy of North Korea works normally. North Koreans may not understand, but South Korea has diverse political spectra even in the same system, and although all political stances are respected here, there are also a lot of conflicts. One government with two systems? In the worst case, civil war could happen. Also, our population is twice of North Korea, so there’ll be a lot of conflict between the two Koreas about how to form a parliament. It would be better not to unify as long as North Korea’s political stance doesn’t change. Because in my point of view, the purpose of the Korean reunification is *peace* rather than because we are the same ethnic group. An opinion that Korea should reunify because we are the same ethnic group has a very weak basis, considering the cost, time, and effort of reunification. Why does the same ethnic group have to form just a single country? Why cannot different ethnic groups gather together (of course as a voluntary will) and form a country? + I admire Germany’s unification through absorption, but if I had been west German people at the time, I honestly would have complained. This type of unification is impossible now in Korea anyway. It’s not late to start to prepare reunification when North Korea’s average income becomes 80% of South Korea. There’s no need for a quick reunification at all.

I like how ya’ll just admitted to a crime right off the bat! If you visit another country, shouldn’t you be following their laws, no? Or is it only based on what we feel is right for us?

God, I feel so awful for the 40k people being forced to watch that marathon. That has to be rediculously boring.

Watching this as if i got throwback to the 90s

Liebenswertes Land. Ein wenig mehr Freiraum und es ist wirklich ein Paradies.

Hold it. Am I to understanding correctly that the North Korea provide you a guard that can spoke Deutsch language also? Man, they are really through and through.

Whats the point in asking North Korean tour guide about political prospects of unification? Whats the point in talking about food programme in a dictatorship country? Arent the answers obvious and known in advance?

He shat himself in the Pyongyang metro – RESPECT!

22:20 children ar used as screen panel for images. Now that’s energy efficiency

Sometimes North Korea reminds me of, like, if Wes Anderson directed Schindler’s List. Does that make sense? It’s such a profoundly evil place (strictly because of government, not the actual people of North Korea) with all this color and beauty. idk, what I’m getting at other than this was another great film, guys. Thank you!

Beautiful people what a fantastic documentary made even more touching by the folk song loved by North and south Koreans alike , regarding two lovers hurt by distance

I hope those NK citizens didnt get in trouble while unknowingly being recorded

This documentary perfectly illustrates that the world needs stupid people. It was incredibly stupid to risk their lives like this, but at the same time we need people like this because it’s the only glimpses we get into North Korea

Promise yourself: commit no sin that god may place you in the next birth in North Korea.

I think it’s unfair and wrong to put politically sensitive questions to North Korean minders… especially on camera. They live in a very high control society and the repercussions for these conversations could very well result in imprisonment or death.

I hope the people who talked to them are safe, especially the woman who admitted that she thought the south had a higher standard of living.

it must get confusing when more than half of everything has the word “Kim” in it.

Great documentary for the rest of us who probably will never visit North Korea.

A parade a day keeps the food away.

I pity them really. It’s as if (or rather it IS indeed) they are held hostage in perpetuity and that they have to pretend to be satisfied with the leadership of their country.

Sounds like a nice family vacation to go on. The heck with the Bahamas

If you were filming in secret you should have blurred the faces of your handlers for their own safety. I enjoyed the documentary, but not blurring their faces was unprofessional.

This communist dictatorship happened all over Eastern Europe but nobody talks about it !

Does anyone really want to go to such a horror planet ??

To North Korea authorities who are watching, please don’t punish any people related to this video since clearly they are not aware of this hidden camera thing.

Every time I watch a documentary about North Korea, people looked more happier and food everywhere. The previous documentary showed people being miserable and the narrator saying that the people have resorted to eating grass because there is no food about. Western propaganda or truth?

People freely use the internet and youtube to express their opinions and use it to defend a regime / government that prohibits their people from using the internet and youtube to express their opinions. This is not pure hypocrisy but a form of mental illness or fanatism.

They did OK in some ways, considering they have been surrounded, hit with sanctions on everything.

The músic of when they arrive in korea It’s from mononoke hime of studio ghibli… From Japan.

@ 21: 44 two soldiers led some guy away , obviously against his will.Any idea what could have been that poor guy’s fate & what was his ” crime ” ?

The toure guide, speaks german like a native.

After watching this, i have a strange desire to sell everything i own and move my fam to north korea so we can serve the great leader kim jan une.

wow, this guy straight up admitted to shitting himself on an escalator in Pyongyang. I would have omitted that fact and just said I had a horrible stomach bug and went back to the hotel.

I love NK documentaries

And i thought i watched every NK Documentary XD

41:17 There is no US product. (Fanta is a US brand though.) Kirin Beer (JP) Heineken Beers (Netherlands) Bavaria Beer (Germany) Vitalsberg Beer (Proex Brewing Co., Spain) UCC Blended Coffees (JP) Fanta (Seemingly, they are Coca Cola Japan or other siblings’ products because that logo was obsoleted in USA in 2010.) Pokka Melon Milk & Strawberry Milk (JP) Sangaria のみごろ果樹園オレンジ & サングレープ (JP)

Part of the show that was mobilized. Eat well and live well as North Korea. We’ll live well as we are. Unification is the sound of dogs freezing to death.

“We even saw some US products on sale” Shows Fanta and Heineken

It’s interesting and all but you put all those people in danger with some of your questions I don’t know why you kept doing that they could be imprisoned or killed if they say the wrong thing and your asking all these political questions. That really bothered me it was so clear some of them were very uncomfortable with the questions and nervous

no adds, beautyful

First of all, thank you for the video and the comparison, it was great! Second – North Korea, you have nothing to hide away! You have unique way of doing things and I respect it. It shows what a single mind can do with people and in a way, it is scary. But it is amazing as well, all to contribute to a common goal and a presentation what it can achieve. Yes, you are closed to us most of the time, but I really hope one day you will open to us and will view the outside world as well. I hope you will see us as another nation, not as an enemy, or a country that would want to destroy you, but as a world that can contribute and show what we all can do together. It was one of those videos that did show totally different mentality, which in a way, is really nice and enriching. I do hope you will join us one day, the rest of the world, in common peace.

The most isolated country ever.

Lets hope some day the people of North Korea will be free

Everything is so depressing. The subway specially! It reminds me of cheap old 70s buildings in my country.

You could literally be in really hot water if they found your secret videos.

pretty naive journalists; when you mentioned one guide left and was replaced by another…don’t you realize he’s sent to a labour camp for punishment? All due to your hubris of needing footage and asking really invasive questions. You’re the one knowing you’re in a totalitarian regime; why do you assume he has free speech and can answer all your probing and really dangerous questions regarding ideology? Plus, if you’ve ever worked for a large corporation in the West, you’ll realize that the powers that be utilize the precise same tactics–divide and conquer and always have people watching each other. Totally naive, and irresponsible. Aren’t you ‘clever’ finding a way around having a guide–running a marathon. Don’t you know the North Koreans are totally aware of this, and have their own agenda and methods of keeping you all under surveillance? What hubris! And don’t you think for a moment that North Koreans were totally aware from the beginning that you were clandestinely filming footage, regardless of covering the flashing red light? They just let you go ahead. Nothing is done without their knowledge.

How can you have a person who does not even speak English explain the system. That person does not even understand how North Koreans think!

aint no way I am ever going there!

how unethical and inhumane!,putting those people lives in danger,secretly recording making questions for which they can face a death penalty if answered and not even hiding their faces in the footage….Shame on those reporters and on DW !!!!

This country is interesting but sad at the same time.

This was a very selfish thing to do. You should’ve covered the faces & hidden the voices of the guides and so on. I’m pretty sure all the people recorded are now dead, in prison or in a camp of some kind. And their families too.

Next: Eritrea know as North Korea of Africa

I am German. I don’t speak Korean , but I speak Chinese. By speaking that language I do understand how people think. This journalist certainly does not.

Hey, how much did this trip cost? Not just monetarily, but in human suffering. I’m sure the authorities are watching this to see how everyone behaved. Nice work helping them out, and don’t delete this comment like you do all the other disagreeing with you. We’re not bots, alright?

Why do you ask them questions that answering can get them fired ,or even thrown in jail?? For you, this is just a film, but this is their life!

I thought this vlog will talk about his travel in North Korea. He should be talking about the history of the place, culture and explain about the things he sees around. I am wondering why he is asking the Tourist Guide to talk about politics and form of government. He even forcing the tourist guide to give a hypothetical opinion on government structure. This guy is inconsiderate by asking the wrong person.

Still north Korea is much better than many African nation’s interms of development . It’s better organized and cleans than almost all African countries and some Asians nation’s too.

You had some balls coming back there, In Tagalog, people say ‘Na Sa Yo’ meaning – life’s on you. Against all warning signs and you ever find yourself in the pooper…take full responsibility for everything from that first sign you ignored.

you know . I was wondering what happen to all the flowers on the Statues go. after use them lol

we should help North Korea merge into South Korea. government should keep its problems itself.

“The old one has decided to avoid us” some wishful thinking

They have the right to protect their country or else they would have been occupied like IRAQ and stolen everything under the cover of WMD.

i watched this one twice. Once on Spanish channel and now on english one (neither is my native language though)

Also ich finde die Fragen in dem Interview extrem provokativ… Ja, ich verstehe, dass es euch vielleicht interessant war, was diese Menschen eigentlich denken, aber denkt nochmal drüber nach: Was wäre wenn diese unschuldige Leute, die nur versuchten ihre Arbeit zu machen, ins Gefängnis gehen (oder sogar getötet werden), wegen eurem Neugier?! Und, wie viele in den Kommentaren schon erwähnt haben – mindestens versteckt bitte die Gesichter der Menschen.

DW know what happened with those ppl you record ??? ..be carefull, they and their family might be in a great danger because of this video

I think it is best to leave these countries alone. In 20 or 30 years the whole world is developed so much that these dictators will look very stupid and sad to still control a country where 95% off the people are poor.

Western medias usually say that north korean people are isolated by state propaganda from all other world. But this contradicts with what the lady from museum speak about.

Your old tour guide was imprisoned by nightfall that is why you got a new one. Interesting how unaware or just uninterested you are about the faith of all the people who`s faces and voices you made public. Great documentary, but this was in the back of my head the entire time.

If this was filmed in 2013… Then why was it uploaded 7 years later??

Great job

USA: if you are independent then you are dictator….

Watching at the Militarian Parade, the female soldiers bare as doubt for decoration only. The Veteran officers are left behind too.

Was this actually a holiday though? They are known to stage parades for foreign visitors.

Now imagine if all the sanctions on DPRK were lifted. Why should they still be sanctioned? Stop the bullying.

what a great video thankyou

Please North Korea, NEVER become like the West.

Would you mind to share the music you used around the 2 min mark? Really liked it!

19 :15 ) Tour guide , she is speaks Very good English Who. Would thing that she”a from hard line People’s Republic korea.

You guys should have hid their faces you don’t care about their lives and safety as long as you get what you want. These people live in North Korea and are likely to be executed for this while in you are enjoying life in your country. Protect them by not showing their faces!!!

why’s the Princess Mononoke theme playing???

I’m surprised one of the guides kids likes or even heard of Disney because I didn’t think of Western stuff went over to North Korea

DW should be ashamed not pixelating the faces of the scouts they ask intimidating questions and get ambiguous reactions from them. You just forget your journalistic responsabilities? When the scouts even spy on each other, do you think they end up in a pony farm, when the regime sees this?! Unbelievable…

aka “Postcard from Hell”

I love more in north Korea than South korea

It looks like a nation stuck in time.

North Korea has the potential to be a great communist-socialist country if it just got rid of its dictatorial regime. Nevertheless, a very informative doco.

The girl who said South Korea is much more developed than North may have been taken to a camp for that remark by now.

Tbh I was a bit disappointed with the ending of the Marathon-Drama. It seemed like a build-up: being sick, getting no water, no rest afterward… I truly thought they needed to go to the hospital or so. But no, it was business as usual, sightseeing and karaoke. Well, of course, I’m glad everyone left North Korea in good health.

If you like watching nk documentary try to watch “my brothers and sisters in the north” This is seriously the best NK Documentary I’ve ever seen.

“You can go anywhere, but you’re not allowed to leave the hotel”

They should be very Lucky that they did not get caught.

Have you ever thought about what will happen to the person you are interacting with ?

They even have cities with nice apartment buildings beautiful places that not a soul lives in empty while people live in dirt shacks they are built to look good for visitors it’s just insane the mentality of the leadership they need to be stopped by powerful countries getting together and going in and dismantling the govt I don’t think even the military would put up much effort if any if the US and China and Russia all got together and just went in on mass and took over and put that kim family in prison doing the hardest time in the worst prison kim had built put him and his cronies in there and let them rot litterly he needs to suffer every last second that he is alive till he dies take all his wealth and palaces everything the own and give it to the people and take a picture if a poor farmer sitting in Kim’s office with his muddy shoes up on Kim’s desk and paper his cell walks with wallpaper made with the picture on it actually take pictures of people living in his houses and dressing in his clothes and put that on the wall paper to that would drive a sociopath like him absolutely insane and put it behind plexiglass on the walls so he can’t destroy and Play that movie he tried to stop play it on a wall sized screen behind plexiglass to play it loud to so he has to hear it then every now and the slide a dull pair of scissors in his cell to see if he has the balks to kill himself but make them super dull and too short so he can’t reach his heart if he tried falling on them do it with all the people that are totally in agreement with him now treat them and torture them all the same and feed him what the poorest of the poor are forced to eat every day just to survive but give them especially that fat bastard half of what the poor would be able to get a day maje it a quarter I would love to be the guy who gets to be the guy thst thinks up all these petty little tortures for him he’s so petty I would like to torture him in the same stupid way his minute little mind thinks the fat fuck !!!!

North Korea must be over the moon with this DW documentary. DW and the north Korean propaganda ministry seemed to make NK look like a nice place to live. It looks clean, the people look healthy and happy, I just don’t buy it though. I’m sure it will end badly for the Kim regime (see Nicolae Ceausescu))

This is iresponsible journalism at its best. You broadcasted the voices and faces of these people even though you know that some of the things they have said may severely affect them and their family.

That’s a fantastic video thx 4 sharing

First time seeing inside North Korea like this. Where are the people in the cities? There seemed to be lots of buildings, but not many people.

its sad… 🙁

Sorry to differ with you guys. But I think what she(guide) told is what she taught. She wanted to tell that though they’re living high quality of life but are not happy like us(North Korean). Then what’s wrong? If DW blur her face, it might not be difficult for the authorities to find out who the guy is. Another thing is the DW didn’t have the access of the forbidden part of the nation. Then what’s wrong?

i wish to takeover north korea……IF I SUCCEED..the amount of military power i get is tremendous…….

Been to North Korea. You DONT even want to know what poor looks like beyond the façade. That’s why people live to survive, they adapt, communism is their religion.

I like how you’re not constantly assaulted with Ads in North Korea. Guess it has that going for it.

Please take this documentary down and blur all the faces of people that were recorded without consent. This is death to them, I don’t think you understand. In fact, you were very lucky not to get caught.

wow… “one country, two systems”… they should enquiry the people living in Mainland China, HK, and TW.

Probably most scaring was when he felt being free again arriving in China…..

Amazing

The people see you (sudden curiosity?) then look away quickly or straight ahead and sternly.

They have no idea how developed the outside world has become. I think.

Disney Films, taking the camera from the front and filming and speaking obviously, all fluent german speaking guides and the museum guide who was aware of the higher living standard in south korea… seems like its quite open and not as we think „all controlled“..

The Ryugyong hotel is nothing short of bizarre. And you’re not allowed to photograph incomplete shots that have their dear leaders’ likeness not in their entirety. They will go through your cameras, phones and anything else you brought and delete anything they don’t like. Fascinating video though, nonetheless.

Not everyone can say they shit the escalator in North Korea.

When I saw DW/BBC portray N. Korea, China or Russia, the lens is always with kind of darkness, reddish color mask and horrifying sound tracks. Is that how you make documentary objectively and professionally?

What about the guide? What about their children and families? You put them at RISK!

Isnt it dangerous for the tour guide people and everyone talked with the hidden journalists ?

I hope both Korea will be unified soon that is my wish. We are Asians

being socialist, not knowing wealth, he can’t imagine not being equally poor with everyone else. if the korea’s were united, that is one of the many things he will no longer have to imagine. suddenly he’d be exposed to the real world, not just the make believe world of NK

Re building, Love is love. This building had good history. Long see for me.

noone is saying anything that that guy did a marathon with a stomach bug in north korea and went for a sightseeing tour right after, thats pretty badassed if you ask me 😀

The selfie stick of him running reminds me of Chariots of Fire

We know exactly where their concentration camps are, yet the world does nothing.

why the atmosphere looks like it was still 1970s in that country

I am concerned about what could happen to your guides after this material had uploaded

Reunification might not happen in our lifetimes. God willing it will happen according to His time

leave them alone .

Why show their faces? That’s putting them in lethal danger

Please don’t put their lives at risk. Don’t reveal their face.

I love your program but i do not like to have subtitles in the middle of the screen,not very smart idea.

It seems all events are staged the people are not happy you can see on their faces that they probably live in fear.

Hope Kim family will give up their power to unite the whole country in peace !!!

No foreigners about only Koreans. Strange and abnormal to see, tells you something about the regime. My capital city full of faces from all around the world. That’s gratifying.

So here I’m back in 27th July 2020, with pandemic situation.

I love north korea

Look at these outsiders as long as they get a story they dont care about those korean guids getting killed if the goverment sees there footage asking all those questions to see how loyal they are to there country.

I hope the lady who communicate in English is alive

Lady at min 19 seems she would be hilarious in western world, seems nice and funny lol

Those guards are probably dead now, following the airing of your footage .

Poor journalistic form. You’re asking the lowest tier of society what you know are controversial questions for which they can get severely punished trying to get a sound bite out of it. You know they can’t honestly answer. You can see the fear on their faces when they are being asked these questions.

Congratulations, with your visit you supported the North Korean regime. To be fair, at least you made a great documentary about it, so that others can watch it instead of going there.

i am not crazy to go to north korea.

As Kim Jong fell Ill, and god got the kill. His sister now most definitely will, rule with a thrill.

Everyone looks like their stuck in some old school time period.

Schöne Leute, was für ein fantastischer Dokumentarfilm, der durch das von Nord- und Südkoreanern gleichermaßen geliebte Volkslied über zwei Liebende, die durch die Entfernung verletzt wurden, noch berührender wurde

Not that much which was filmed really will embarrass the NK regime. Of course much of it is staged, much of it is not so spontaneous cheerfulness. But the parts of NK we see here clearly are the better ones, those of the middle class, the aparatchik. This is like visiting the better parts of Moscow when Russia still was the USSR. Of course that doesn’t give a good impression of a country as a whole: in smaller Soviet towns, life probably wasn’t even half as good. One could make a similar program about the USA: showing the gated communities and Fifth Avenue only: while we all know there are also poor parts in the States, the state Detroit is in today, the rough parts of towns like San Francisco where people live in trailers or tents… I have no problem with NK having another political system as ours, but the whole Juche thing is just there to keep the power in the hands of the same group of fat cats, the same family, and THAT is not a good thing. Having said that, the regime certainly also has reached some achievements: the capital looks very clean, no damned grafitti, the people very elegant, no stupid ripped jeans and gold chains and other b… shit the West is producing, and the mass spectacle with children is very impressive. But it is clear that all this comes to a price, a very heavy one. It is always “walking on eggs” as we say in Dutch. Not to be able to get angry about stupidities of whatever political leaders really must be quite oppresive. A bit like in Nazi germany. And so sad to see that so much of the little reasources go to weapon systems, as if the West would ever get it into its head to invade a country with a very difficult terrain and more than 1 miollion soldiers. All those rockets of Kim III are just like the toys of a spoiled child. So, very very mixed feelings, but then again, I have those to about South Korea, China, the States or my own country, always for different reasons. There is no country with an ideal system: it is never as ideal for everyone in the same way. Since I was so blunt about it, I don’t think I ever will get an invitation to see NK, but well, there’s always Youtube…

The world would be boring if all countries adopt the same system as the West. Each country should have the right to choose the system they want.

Imagine if the black tape fell off and they noticed the red light.

Where did the tour guide learn how to speak good German?

Go now, and you’ll really be surprised how much it’s changed. No euros or dollars. Nada

I thought the GDR and East Berlin were oppressive, in comparison it was like a child’s playground…

great!

It’s easier for east Berliners to understand. Just think about why lots informants during Stasi time, then it explains all.

I guess North Korea love black peoples I could’ve live there all my life. I just love this country

These kind of documentaries seem more than propaganda than serious documentaries. Life outside Pyongyang is the real drama that endure the north Korean people. That’s precisely what they never show on this videos.

Our watchdog only stayed loyal to the regime – disrespectful and cheap journalism. You were born in the most priviledged 1% of the world with everything inherited from a hardworking generation. Only these koreans guys know what kind hardship they have to go through to live and work in that country without being punished for a small crime. A lot of dudes will cry like a baby when life will be this shitty. Be thankful and respectful, make your documentary and get your money! Please.

For no money in the world i would go there

The normal koreans dont watch disney as its from the west.i think hes up in the rankings

Bow down, yes bow down please, and do a small act of obeisance to the statues of the great leaders. I would rather die, I would rather die before I bow down before the statue of a man. The reporter seemed to give a rather flattering portrait of N.K. compared to others ive seen all things considered.

If North and South Korea are still at war (they are), then the war is not over. No peace has been concluded, and I spent 16 months stationed in the ROK with US Forces Korea.

They claim there are only 2 hotels that accept foreigners in Pyongyang. That’s incorrect, there are probably a dozen or more that Westerners can stay at. Chinese have additional options.

Word on the street is that the girl with the green sweater talking about South Koreans having a higher standard of living hasn’t been seen since that day.

Chinese red army saved North Korea during Korean War. Without Chinese help, NK would had lost the war

Finally, a report that doesn’t laugh at North Korea people.