North Korea
Setting a new tap-the-frog record in North Korea

Johan Kruseman
Updated on 19 August 2024

During dinner, we experienced five power outages, but funny enough, the TV kept broadcasting lovely propaganda. After dinner, we went to a symbolic tower, a tower with 70 steps on the outside to correspond with each year of the leader’s life, and as a metaphor that everybody can reach the top through self-reliance. I can’t help but think it’s ironic that the main idea preached by the leaders in Korea is that everybody decides their own fate.

With all the highlights of Pyongyang checked off, we were able to visit some selected countryside. In the capital, people either ignored us or politely nodded, but in the countryside, people really didn’t know how to react. Some stared, others didn’t dare to look but secretly glanced back when we passed, and some waved. There was definitely some tension when we arrived in a village, as if they were suspicious of what would change in their lives after we left. Kids were different; they were very open and curious. When I showed them “Tap the Frog” on my iPhone, 30 children wildly tried to get their fingers on the screen of my way-too-small iPhone. Boy, that would have been a new Tap the Frog high score if the iPhone could handle so many touches at once.

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Traveled route: Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, Pyjongyang, Kaesong Checkpoint, Wonsan, Hamhung

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A factory, the beach and a summer camp, seemingly all so perfect

Shortly after, we were disrupted by an interesting visit to an old factory, where I hoped the emergency number didn’t contain too many 8s and 9s, as the emergency phone was an old-school rotary device. Our next stop was the beach, passing by a grea

North Korea
Did this story inspire you to go to North Korea? Read more on what North Korea has to offer, what the best months are for visiting and check the handy links for backpacking there.

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A factory, the beach and a summer camp, seemingly all so perfect

North KoreaaddMaskedRevealAnimation('67023aa765368');Did this story inspire you to go to North Korea? Read more on what North Korea has to offer, what the best months are for visiting and check the handy links for backpacking there.addMaskedRevealAnimation('67023aa76536b');

North Korea
Setting a new tap-the-frog record in North Korea

North Korea
Did this story inspire you to go to North Korea? Read more on what North Korea has to offer, what the best months are for visiting and check the handy links for backpacking there.