On a 10-month long trek through Eastern Europe and Asia, Darmon Richter, a 28-year-old copywriter from Britain, spent a week touring North Korea.
Tourism is strictly regulated in the "Hermit Kingdom," and Richter, who currently lives in Varna, Bulgaria, spent his time there traveling with eight others under the watchful eye of the Korean International Travel Company. The group would wake early and be transported around the country by bus.
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"My favorite thing about North Korea was the sense of mystery," Richter told Business Insider in an email. "It's truly fascinating to be able to travel around a country about which so little is known, and the Korean people offer visitors a very warm welcome! However, there is still a sense that some things remain hidden from guests... which only added to my growing interest in the country."
One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the historic city of Kaesong, 84 miles from Pyongyang. Unlike the propaganda-strewn streets of Pyongyang, Kaesong was peaceful, and surprisingly lush. "The city features a wealth of traditional Korean architecture, less totalitarian branding and also the beautiful burial site of King Kon-Min—a ruler of the ancient Koryo Dynasty," Richter said.
Of course, travel to North Korea is incredibly difficult, and the State Department warns U.S. citizens against visiting. Tourists must travel in guided groups, which are generally run by the Korean International Travel Company.
Richter wrote about his experiences on his blog, The Bohemian, and shared his photos from his tour of Kaesong with us.
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Kaesong is a popular tourist destination in North Korea, about 80 miles south of Pyongyang. It's home to just over 300,000 people.
This main street runs the length of Kaesong.
A giant bronze statue of President Kim Il-sung watches over his people from Mount Janam at the center of the city.
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