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Subscribe to RSSJeremy Laurence of Reuters reports from aboard the Mangyongbyong, North Korea:
When you think of taking a cruise, usually it's the Bahamas, Fiji or the Maldives that generally come to mind. How about North Korea?
On Tuesday, the mysterious state launched itself into the glitzy world of cruise tourism when about 130 passengers set sail from the rundown port of Rajin, near the China-Russia border, for the scenic Mount Kumgang resort near the South Korean border.
Carlos Barria / Reuters
A visitor posses with a cruise ship at the port of Rason, in the North Korean special economic zone northeast of Pyongyang on August 30.
Carlos Barria / Reuters
Local residents wave as a cruise ship with visitors leaves the port of Rason on August 30.
Isolated North Korea's "state tourism bureau" has teamed up with a Chinese travel company to run the country's first ever cruise aboard an ageing 9,700 tonne vessel which once plied the waters off the east coast of the divided peninsula shuttling passengers between North Korea and Japan.
Some 500 North Koreans, about half dressed in dark workers clothes and the others in office and traditional attire, waved off the ship in a strictly choreographed performance on the potholed dock. The spectators waved North Korean flags and fake flowers, and let off a blast of paper fireworks to mark the occasion. Carnival music blared from two minivans with speakers on their roofs.
Ng Han Guan / AP
North Koreans and Chinese travel agents eat at a buffet during the trial cruise of the North Korean leisure boat the "Mangyongbyong" on its way to Mount Kumgang in North Korea on Aug. 30. Since South Korean tourists have been barred from the luxury resort, known abroad as Diamond Mountain, North Korea has begun courting Chinese and other international tourists.
Ng Han Guan / AP
Visitors enjoy the view along the coastline in Mount Kumgang in North Korea on Aug. 31.
Before the setting off, the vice mayor Hwang Chol-nam of Rason City, of which Rajin port is a part, gave a speech lauding the venture as part of the region's push to attract tourism.
Hwang hailed a local rule that allows people of any nationality to visit the area visa-free. They must, however, arrange the trip through a designated tour company.
"Any country, people from America, Japanese, Singaporean can come to Rason, that's the reality today, and that's the same for the Kumgang special economic zone," he told reporters aboard the vessel.
See more pictures of North Korea on PhotoBlog.
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How big are the oars that they give you to power the ship?
The people in all these photos look like zombies from a 50s Hollywood movie. No joy, anywhere!
Sounds like fun!! Take off from a 'rundown' port and travel to the scenic area near the border with South Korea where there are currently no hostilities going on!! LMAO!!
Better that they launch a cruise ship rather than a cruise missle!!
Lol aren't those the same thing in North Korea?
"Hi, my name Kim." "I be your slave steward for cruise." "Now" as AK-47 rises from room service cart, "We hold you prisoner of greatest imperial joy-god Kim Jong Il for spying....
Carnival Cruise Lines has NOTHING to fear!
Does anyone have information to post on the name of the designated tour company? It would be a very interesting cruise and this is history that N Korea had opened two port areas to visit and visa-free. Im sure many restrictions, but its a start. "I'm going to N Korea"
Who want to gamble on when this.... ship will collapse?
Cruise ship activities 9am -released from lock down, 10am coal shoveling for the engine, 1pm state sponsored national pride assembly on top deck, 3pm live fire excersize, 6 pm joy tasty rice bowl extraviganza, 8pm -lock down
No way! 2 hours for joy tasty rice bowl extravaganza???!!!! Awesome!!! Hey, I heard a rumor that at the captain's dinner that they even have soy sauce....any truth to that?
LMFAO!
Take another good look at that ship. Notice the shabby (half a$$ed) white paint job over the MILITARY Gray. That is a military naval ship in disguise.. I wouldn't suggest spending to much time on the deck.. you may get burned when the missiles start to launch..
why are they even trying to act like they are free spirited and a loving government? i wouldnt even waste my time trying to go. according to them if you have time to vacation, youre not doing what youre ordered to do.
The food on the buffet looks tasty on those flimsy tables.....nice sneeze guards too! Wonder what they have on the menu as they don't have too much to eat on dry land.
This is good news for North Korea. Now they are free to deliver nukes to their "clients" anywhere in the free world and get their economy really moving again.
The ship should no be alowed on the open sea!
lol
i noticed that to
for a joyish cruise i see 2 people smiling
the rest look like "sure wish i could eat something" on their mind
sadsadsad
OMG. It looks like it's about 100 years old and was painted with cans of spray paint.
that is some s**t...
Boy that's errr.....ahhh...ummm....some kinda spread they're throwin' out there.........eh ?
Deluxe accomodations await the imperialistic capitalist pig-dog. Our former cargo hold has been magically transformed by his utmost supreme majesty of joy, Kim Jong Il himself. It has 3 state of the art fluorescent illumination devices that are almost as bright as our giver of sunshine and eternal happiness himself, Kim Jong Il. As you can see it has 1 plastic chair that is almost worthy of being a throne sat upon by our eternal creator and master of gravity himself, Kim Jong Il. The seaweed pictured is harvested fresh twice daily and so thoughtlessly and mercifully provided by the ultimate ruler of sky, sun and the 7 seas himself, Kim Jong Il.
Local residents!!! Funny they all must shop at the same place.Most have on the same uniform.
It is better than them launching a cruise missile...
I think it is interesting they are trying for a piece of luxury like this. They do fall short by not consulting with others who have actually succeeded in these industries. Perhaps those in North Korea look upon being able to take this cruise like Americans look at a trip to Hawaii or Disney Land. They may not have had a vacation like this in the past and this could be exciting to them. It is interesting how alike we are. We all need periods of rest.
I hear Wayne Newton is headlining in the Showroom...
In North Korea, cruise ship rides you.
Why is there only one woman in the picture? Looks like she's ready for bed.
Tug boats will tow the "cuise" ship out to sea and then the passengers will be given oars to power the ship. 40 lashes for any passenger who doesn't keep up.
I notice the name of the Cruise ship is Mangy ong byong. She looks mangy to me so I guess the name is appropriate. The buffet looks interesting as does the ship. Does the government pay you to take the trip or just order you to take it?