North Korea Archives -

Strange Customs in North Korea

November 4, 2026October 29, 2026 by Jim

Strange customs in North Korea delves into the many strange customs unique to the so-called “Hermit Kingdom,” showcasing how few countries evoke curiosity like North Korea does. Isolated from much of the world and under strict state control, it has developed strange customs that may seem perplexing to outsiders. While some customs are based on tradition, many are influenced by the state’s political ideology.

During my 3 years in the country, Kim Jong Il was in the driving seat although the cult of Kim Il Sung his late father was still very prevalent and powerful throughout the country.

So, here is a look at some of the most notable strange customs and events I came across. It is also worth bearing in mind that information from within the country when I was in post right up until the present day was limited and a lot of information that comes out nowadays is often sourced from defectors, journalists, and carefully managed tourist visits.

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Uncover The Joy Of Golf In North Korea!

November 4, 2026February 19, 2021 by Jim

Golf In North Korea, really? This is a story that not many people would believe. In a culture that abhorred any form of perceived western or capitalist pastime, especially one that is seen as relatively exclusive, how was this possible?

Well, the short answer was that even in North Korea it was possible.

In a recent post about my time living in North Korea for 3 years, one of the questions posed was “what did you do for fun?“

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Surviving 3 Years In North Korea As A Foreign Diplomat

November 4, 2026February 11, 2021 by Jim

North Korea Military Plan Cruel Deception

How to survive 3 years in North Korea as a foreigner is indeed a good question. 3 years is a long time!

Some time ago, I was asked about life in North Korea. Who had I upset to have been banished to the “Hermit Kingdom” for 3 years. I imagine they were slightly taken aback when I told them I had volunteered. They then sent me a series of questions. They asked for a snapshot of what it was really like living, working and surviving there for so long. This I was happy to do.

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North Korea Military Plan Cruel Deception

November 4, 2026July 27, 2020 by Jim

North Korea Military Plan Cruel Deception is a story that once I had the full details of the aftermath several years later, quite frankly left me speechless and angry.

Background:

In early 2004, I was contacted at the embassy in Pyongyang by David Hinton, the brother of an RAF pilot who had been shot down in 1952 over North Korea during the Korean war. He said he had been working for several years trying to garner as much information from a variety of primary sources as to the fate of his brother.

This information he now had in his possession. Most of the details of the shoot down were supplied by eyewitness United States Air Force (USAF) pilots including map coordinates of the site of the crash (which he later sent to me).

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North Korea Military Work With British Diplomat

November 4, 2026July 16, 2020 by Jim

Scene Setter:

North Korea Military Work With British Diplomat relates to a unique situation where a British diplomat had a close working relationship with the North Korean military for a 6 month period, and this would in itself raise more than a few eyebrows. Working for 3 years in North Korea was on the one hand a time of frustration and on the other a time of discovery in this fascinating yet enigmatic country.

Life In North Korea As A Foreigner Surviving 3 Years

Butting heads on a daily basis with the stifling North Korean bureaucracy was always a battle, but occasionally there was a glimmer of achievement and sometimes from the most unlikeliest of sources. The North Korea Military context provided unique insights.

In early 2004, I was contacted at the embassy in Pyongyang by the brother of an RAF pilot who had been shot down in 1952 over North Korea during the Korean war. He said he had full details of the shoot down supplied by eyewitness United States Air Force (USAF) pilots and map coordinates of the site of the crash (which he sent to me) and wished to visit the area to discover the fate of his brother.

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