Traveling through North Korea | DW Documentary
This documentary provides a rare glimpse of change in the notoriously closed country. Filmmakers Gregor Möllers and Anne Lewald discretely shot the video on trips to North Korea in 2013 and 2017, when they were not allowed autonomy or spontaneity.
Despite the fact that their itinerary was arranged for them in advance and guides chaperoned them everywhere, the two Berliners found a way to register their impressions. They depict a city lacking authenticity, a country longing for reunification and a people shaped by Juche beliefs and socialist propaganda. In a society steeped in obfuscation and spectacle, where deception is necessary for perception and expression, the filmmakers were forced to play a double role, secretly recording without permission while also genuinely relating to their hosts. By blending travelogue and espionage, A Postcard from Pyongyang captures what happens when you rely solely on what you see, not what you’re told, and reveals a reality Kim Jong-Un’s regime doesn’t want foreigners to see.
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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.
Yeah ! Just what I was thinking while watching it. Those people could get murdered because of this. Dw should have blurred their faces
@@RedScotland a guide deemed them too risky and swapped with another. This does not happen unless real danger is in the picture for speaking negatively against the regime.
@@Eqvil I don't think they were sent to a labor camp for that but they might have gotten in trouble with their supervisor
@@RedScotland You really shouldve been born there
@@RedScotland what do you mean by enslaved consciousness?
I'm obsessed with documentaries about North Korea. I've watched almost every single one on KZhead.
Me too! It's fascinating
SAO Documentary on DPRK are by far the best insight
U must like cult like mentality videos. I watch Both north Korean and cult documentaries they are very similar
@@Steveinthailand but some of the episodes are really boring, like in the shoe factory as an example.
@@douglasallen511 outsourcing leasing?
When I went to South Korea 3 years ago to visit my family, I had the opportunity to visit the DMZ. I was surprised at how still the soldiers are. On the border, the north and south Korean soldiers stare into each other's souls. There was also that eerie atmosphere on the border.
NK party soldier's have no soul. Their not allowed too. It's called brainwashed and threatened.
Strange.....😳👀
May I ask how did you get to leave? And we’re you afraid you wouldn’t be able to go back to where you were coming from?❤️
@@yarajax5023 It was a guided tour.
It's still technically a warzone
The fact that we get free documentaries on KZhead by DW Documentary is truly a gift 👍👍👍
You speak the true true.
These DW Documentaries are getting so addictive
North Korea is the best Korea
@@Kimjongun19841 Heil Kim Jong-un!
True that
African Pirate thank you comrade
They're definitely helping make my days better 👍🏼 I love their documentaries ❤️
I feel bad if any of these people get in trouble for unknowing being recorded.
I share your concerns.
I hope they thought it over well
Diffidently , it is a crime the #DW must be acted as responsible
original lol
Collateral Damage?
I never understood why reporters like you keep asking those kind of questions knowing they could get in a huge trouble or basically disregard your entire question entirely. It's so irresponsible.
Yes it’s upsetting. We all know the sort of fate they could be subjected to yet they probe them anyway. It’s cruel. What sort of answers are they expecting to get anyway?
I bet you they got some real answers before, on camera but never shared. They even pointed out how the guide was loyal to the country and said nothing, while chances are he said something that got him in trouble.
Are they actually reporters?
I hope that lady is doing okay. You guys should have blurred her face and protected her identity. I really hope she is doing okay.
absolutely. and why is this not a 10 hours video? too many cuts
Detestable is the regime not the media
I’m sure the government knows who the guides are and are aware foreigners are in their country well ahead of time.
This might not necessarily have helped. There is a good chance NK keeps track of everyone guiding or contacting with foreigners (be it a minder or a museum guide). esp. after such videos have been released.
She probably gone by now
Honestly, I’m a little worried for the people that were unknowingly recorded. I wouldn’t be surprised if they got in serious trouble.
Exactly my thoughts.selfish from.this guy really didn't try to sensor anything or protect these people in any way ,cared about himself and making a name foe himself at the expense of these peoples lives and safety. Entitled, selfish guy.
We received the following statement from the filmmakers regarding people's safety: “This was of course a question we asked ourselves after we first went into editing, after all we were simply travelers and not trained experts. Accordingly, we gathered various expert opinions, had long conversations, and therefore decided not to publish certain scenes. Therefore, there are no statements of the guides in our film, which are not also in accordance with the regime.”
@@allbyhisgrace8925 Bet you watched it to the end though.
@@allbyhisgrace8925 what's selfish and entitled are your baseless assumptions, as if you have a clue what's on the cutting room floor 😉
who cares
"Don't point at the statue" he says, pointing at the statue.
LoL😂 he's saying: rike me, you white people don't get to point at Supreme Leader
Lol 😂😂😂😂
Hilarious 😂
*He’s probably dead now.*
Pointing is only allowed for Koreans
I honestly feel so sad for these poor souls who were recorded unknowingly. This is not responsible journalism when you already know what type of critical environment these people live in. I hope they are alive and safe. Feel so worried for that lady who was talking about South Korea and also the guide who shared their personal lives.
A very irresponsible documentary putting lives at risk. Extremely unprofessional. I don't expect this from DW.
Do you know the time stamp of the lady who was talking about South Korea?
@@strykerthepsycher841219:52
@@strykerthepsycher8412 19:45
I've watched so many of these types of North Korea documentaries, and what struck me most was the woman discussing religion - her tone was so friendly and casual compared to almost every other official I've seen. It was such a contrast.
I agree. I've never seen such (seemingly) genuine curiousity.
This video is the answer of: Why is dictatorship beautiful? Such a contrast indeed. While Russia is bad at everything, North Korea is doing better than many thought
I'm surprised that the juche museum guide admitted that the south has a higher standard of living
Send the guides mail to labor camp 40
She was never heard from again.
She lost 60 lbs. in the labour camp where she was sent for reconditioning.
I’ve seen in a couple of documentaries North Korean people have said this, and have heard them say they are taught this, but that the higher standard of living has lead to a degradation of society, so it’s taught as a bad thing
I can't help but think what DID happen to that young lady and three generations of her family???
"Plastic flowers that brought back to the stand to be sold again." Thats actually a pretty good idea lol.
Very capitalist
Yes definitely a record-breaking idea!
Very common in subcontinent. religions places like temples/tombs use this method in Pakistan & India to recycle the baits/gifts which visitors buy and offer to holy sites 🤣
🤣
The environment is also important.
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.
Of course they're OK.
Even if they blurred their faces, the dictator, sorry leader, knows who they are as it’s all registered.
@@jackbrown4120 how would u know? :)
@@StiflersMomTTV how would" you" know too?🙄🤔
@@rashiidabdallah1648 Where does Stifler claim to know?
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!!
Me too,I liked her much,great body !
She was the first curvy North Korean I have seen. I liked her. She seems sweet.
I the reporters are not that understanding to take all that in to consideration.
I'm sure she's doing fine, infact probably better than you.
Every people that work under NK tourism has a handler. such small mistakes like that are usually overlooked after a talk with their handlers. worst case scenario is a pay cut. sure they are trained what to say to foreigners but what foreigners think that guides are avoiding question in fear of punishment is actually their sense of patriotism. lets not forget that North-korean people are trained to be patriotic at a very young age. punishing people for petty mistakes is expensive and western media poisoning.
I hope the guides don't get punished for the secret recordings of the these journalists.
@Chime In I dont think so, in the past the guides have not been killed.
Obviously these journalists don’t care.
I thought of that too
We have sent them to camp Just to be sure
It's not like they have access to KZhead in NK, even if they did, what are the chances of them finding this exact video? Little to none, they'll be fine.
What a well put together documentary. It was cool to see the contrast between the first and second visit. There is hope.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
22:02-23:42 Very impressed by the timing and co-ordination of all who took part. 😎As always, an excellent video.👍
0: cool! Worth the click. Thanks bro. ❤️
I think the identities of North Koreans who interacted with DW should not have revealed irrespective of their opinions rearding the regime.
Right. They might be killed
I agree. I assume all the people interviewed in these shows end up in labor camps.
I think they already killed or jailed
Sigh. DW made this documentary to debunk the myths concerning N Korea yet people like you are still like ‘should reveal the identities’ ‘could be killed’ ‘ yeah yeah’
I don't think that people were being negative about their country. Also blurring their faces would not made a difference anyway. If thats the case, many documentaries shouldn't be ever been published.
They shouldn't ask guides provocative questions. It's putting them at great risk.
that is a journalist job, thats why north korea prohibited journalist as stated in the begining of the video
Sad contradiction. Journalists had to ask. Guides had to shut their mouth.
@@Jerry-gt7kx they are ambush journalists. Unfortunately not the first either. They know they are probably being recorded too. Do they think they are dumb?
@@tpenoel88 Yeah but they signed a contract saying they wouldn't pose those journalist type questions. I mean it's great that we can see North Korea on video, but there's no need for a political commentary.
I dont think so, in the past the guides have not been killed.
Very interesting information along with footage. Well made documentary.
I’m so happy I found this KZhead channel, such great content.
Thanks for watching and subscribing.
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.
that is scary indeed
The streets are all so empty in these videos. It's sooooo eeerie
I saw you from the other side
It's mad but I actually want to go to North Korea.
the US had to fight those people at one point.
Couldn't think of anything worse than running a marathon then immediately being stuck on a bus for 4 hours.
I was in pyongyang as part of a tour group in june 2019. We were in a tour bus. After visiting the Victory Arch, the NorKor version of the Arc de triomphe, on our way to our dinner venue, our bus, along with all other vehicles were halted at the intersection, a main artery leading from the palace, supposedly to let the visiting Chinese president Xi jinping and Kim jong un pass through, we were stuck for almost three hours waiting, my bladder was unable to find relief, i cannot go down to pee at some random store nor were there public toilets or a fast food restaurant, no pictures nor videos allowed as well. It was a memorable but vividly horrid time. I only got to pee as i hobbled to the restaurant restroom arriving there after a further 20 minutes from the time theintersection was opened.
Thanks for the fabulous work
Extraordinary footage. Outstanding!
I don't think I've missed a single DW DPRK documentary & I'm certain I've watched each one at least 5+ times because they're just that interesting. There's 2 of them I've watched over 10 times. You've been a godsend during covid. Keep up the great content. Watching from Canada.... Nancy. 🙂💯👍❤️😁🇨🇦
I know what you mean .. very interesting
@@gmoney3479 you definitely nailled what i meant for sure. 🙂
You have Juiche powers now!!!
Foreal they are
Another Canadian here. I just love these kind of videos.
This country looks like a gigantic stage where all its actors are trained from the moment they are born .
Yeah, everything just feels fake
This was dangerous how you were interrogating the guides and not protecting their identities. Very irresponsible
broth!how you doing?! you created outstanding !:))
Well done! Most interesting KZhead watch in a very long time.
Thanks for watching and your positive feedback:)
Well done. As much as I dislike the regime, I have a lot of empathy for the people.
Don't worry too much , if you are American they hate you
@@Rossbrian1 because they are brainwashed to hate america. Duh 🙄
@@Rossbrian1 They don't hate the American people lol, they see the American people as "oppressed" by the American government.
@@scythal Do you really believe that North Koreans - who live under the epitome of opression - care about Americans who perceive bs like mandatory vaccine passports as oppressive measures? You wouldn't survive a single day in North Korea. Unbelievable...
@Repeeel19 Amendment It's the government that provides freebies. First blame those mf's, then the lazies but please leave ppl tf alone who really need it. You really believe that passport is oppressiv? I remember half of America used to believe in Trump's downplaying of Covid plus the urgency to find a vaccine, until he got infected and took the in the meantime created vaccine. All of a sudden hooray🍻... the very same praised the new "Trump vaccine" and today that little piece called vaccine passport is supposed to be Hitleri-sh? What if a vaccine passport saved Trump's life? I know it's a bs thought but just a scenario, what if🤔
The shots are pretty amazing considering the circumstances they were taken in.
What circumstances? You are allowed to film anything you want except military lol
@@Rossbrian1 actually not true. You're only allowed to film what the military allows
His camera stick must have a gimball thing as he ran & filmed with hardly any shaking unlike his stomach.
@@Rossbrian1 he made a fair point no need for the juvenile Millennial sarcasm.
Sorry to hear that you felt unwell, hope you felt better 🌸
what a great video thankyou
The lady in the museum was so cute Please blur her face, she might get in trouble after this
Naive is the word I'd use
Akrivoos
Yeah... I hope that they didn't execute her..
Same with the tour guides. I’m worried for their lives
Even it blurred, they will found her later or soon
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.
Ikr i always feel enraged at that kind of thoughtless actions. Like... They are not animals in zoo for people to peek and poke at them and put them in danger. When you see north Koreans got questioned and they shuffling, looking around and then looked at the camera hopelessly it didnt feel fun... It feels horrible!
I have to agree with you on that. While I do appreciate the doc they should have blurred peoples faces for their own protection. Typical western selfishness.
It's an impossible situation for journalists. They are so restricted by the PRNK that if they don't do things that are unwelcome or risky, they can only produce the exact propaganda footage that the PRNK wants. That, of course, is a disservice to everyone including Koreans who suffer under the Kim regime. I'm not sure the criticism you make is one that can ever be redressed. It's very serious, yes - but it's also a complete conundrum for journalism.
Totally agree with you
슬프지만 그들의 작은 실수로 죽을 수 잇고 감시와 검색을 당합니다.
спасибо за контент
I can't believe you finished that marathon!
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 🤔😄
3:11 Odd to hear a North Korean guide referring to their own country as “North Korea”. They typically just say “Korea” based on what I’ve heard in other travel documentaries.
They say Bokdu in Korean and South is hageuk. So in Korean they use 2 different words. Idk about English, though.
As a south Korean It's painful to see only through a western person's eyes
@@reedfaulk much, much worse I've done a lot of personal research on this subject dating back to 2010. It's worth a read if you're interested.
@@reedfaulk the guy in this video only saw what they allowed him to see. notice how many peope were spying on him when he was running the Marathon to make sure he didn't run off course. they had him locked up. whatever is happening there is obviously awful. it's sobering to see the lengths they goto to hide their true colors.
@@daveseemerollin6357 I'm interesting
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??
Why not?
@@Page57 they could be killed, quite simple actually.
Not just them, North Korea has a three generation punishment policy. If you say something wrong they won’t just kill you, they’ll kill your parents and children.
At that festival in the arena, I thought that was a screen in the background. But kids with cards? Insane! :o
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.
Hi Iurieti, might be interesting for you to check out our DW Documentary Instagram Channel, where the authors of this docu give you more personal information about there experiences!
6:21 ich weiß nicht ob ich das richtig verstehen kann wegen dem Übersetzer aber für mich klang das deutch dieses Guides so gut das ich dachte der ist einer von euch und ihr unterhalten euch nur 😮 ich war total verwirrt als erwähnt wurde das er ein Guide ist, wie kann er so gut deutsch?
Wonderful documentary! I enjoyed watching very much. Such a fascinating and unique country!
An old American saying -"believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see"
I love the way they show their experiences in so complex country
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.
so interesting
Apart from an ad every 5-6min, this is a great documentary!
addblock lol
really love your documentaries!
Knowing more about North Korea give me sadness and depression. I literally cried. Those people are like they don't even have their own life. I really feel sad for them. I pray to God that This people can enjoy their life one day, May God helps them that one day that they can live their life freely .🙏
Jadi penasaran tentang negara korea utara.. pasti menegangkan untuk berwisata ke negara itu
Thanks for this. I was running out of NK documentaries/footage to watch.
Thanks for this documentary !
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.
After listening to the woman speak about North Korea and the juche, and her English I have a greater respect for North Koreans . The leader but the honest regular people who somehow find the path to be able to learn about differences and other truths of the world
I really like these DW documentaries. It was good to get an explanation of how the tour guides monitor each other.
Can you do a documentary, in English, about the Stasiheit?
I love dw documentary, honestly. Keep up the good work guys ☺️☺️☺️
no adds, beautyful
Good video 📸 thanks dw
Thank you for your comment!
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 don't think I would want to visit North Korea...thank you very much.!🤔🤨
@@suziwatkins5499 why not? It's a charming country
@@FlamJongUn pretentiously charming
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 am concerned about what could happen to your guides after this material had uploaded
That song at 4:00-6:00 is kinda fire tho🤔🤔😤
The image of that little girl waving throughout the documentary and at the end is heartwarming
this documentary is pretty insightful but I'm really concerned about the tour guide and woman's safety.
Could you imagine the Olympics being held in North Korea? They would totally nail the opening/closing ceremonies.
And they’ll nail you to a prison cell if u missed a beat while final performances
@@sakshi3344 lol
The music in the background prior to 3 minutes in is a remixed song from the Mononoke Home soundtrack lol
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.
The same with Trump. A drug he was willing to lie for and get others to die for.
@@henrimatisse7481 difference is he was elected.
The reason for the euphoria when he enters a room, or in a public place is that the people there get photographed,.and get severely dealt with if they are seen to be applauding less energetically than they should be.
@@alexslater4185 how do you know?
@@jackbrown4120 How do any of us know anything Jack ? We learn to read at school, we read books and other people's texts, we watch documentaries, and films, and as life goes by we learn to authenticate the truth, and dismiss the drivel. We aren't always right, but when we get the same information from different sources, the later information we get tends to verify what we have seen before. If you watch a leader like putin enter a room full of his cohorts in the Kremlin, the same thing happens, they are all applauding him because they know that they will receive severe punishment when the videos are rerun later if they are not seen to be loyal, yet reading news items would suggest that there is a high percentage of them who definitely don't support him. It is also an ego boost too.
I love all the documentary videos broadcast by DW Channel on KZhead. 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.
DW, это лживая западная утка.
Now that was an amazing documentary. Truly amazing
Tolle Reportage... Gut gemacht mit Liebe zu Land und Menschen.
Yes, amazing documentary considering the conditions in which it was filmed.
Well...you did a very good job there ! Respects and wait for the next one :)
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!
This is two trips in one video 💓
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.
I think this was allowed
@@TheSmartLawyer Well he said all the way through that he was filming in secret...
They’re German so I think they know what they’re doing. Well done!👍👏🇨🇦😀
it was said at the beginning they had cameras with a video function. Something that wasn't checked.
@@henrimatisse7481 So this guy is secretly filming while running the marathon, but no one noticed? I think this guy is lying about something.
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
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.
is that Otto Wambier?? @ 21:37
Reunification has not worked well for Hong Kong. North Korea is a dictatorial communist nation, it is NOT socialist.
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.
Un
Wow. The marathon experience
Can someone explain why DHL advertising is at 38 min mark, exactly why lol
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
The músic of when they arrive in korea It's from mononoke hime of studio ghibli... From Japan.
This is a great documentary. Doesn’t just show the down sides of the country but shows beautiful moments. The show they attended was the coolest thing ever and I go to many college marching band competitions 😂
My daughter would have loved it at that school. She does ballet, tap, disco dance. She sings, models and is a young aspiring actor with many films and other theatre productions under her belt. She also is doing a voice over for a major film, she is British but she is doing an American New York accent for an American film 😂
The synthesizer they use for the voice over is really impressive. You'd almost think it's a real person.
Hahaha that hilarious!! 😄
Thank you DW for these amazing documentaries! Totally for free!
paid by KZhead and some of internet data contribution
What is the song called that is playing while they r in the train its beautiful
39:39 I remember singing this song in Chorus class back in middle school. They gave us a partially translated version to sing, but I had forgotten about this song until now!
Awesome documentary! Thank you so much!
Hi @Ariel Monaco, You're welcome, glad you liked it. Best, The DW Documentary Team
"In South Korea they care about money.. In North Korea we care about leader.. his money!"
You would be sent to the north korean gulag for saying that.
@Blaz Blaz good joke
@@ezfist9204 tell us what is the procedure of claiming political asylum at the USA embassy
I don't think unification is possible without getting rid of that atrocious regime.
Gibt es irgendwo das unübersetzt?