North Korea, a nation wejust all love to hate.
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Why do you hate North Korea?

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Why do you hate North Korea?
North Korea, a nation we just all love to hate.
But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why?
We're so quick to impose our morality onto other people.
To assume we understand what
freedom looks like or what happiness should be.
Hello.
I'm back in Pyongyang, the capital of the most secretive nation on Earth.
Today, we're leaving the city, passing by farmlands and military checkpoints.
But this time, I'm not staying for long.
This is where my entire perspective began to shift.
Because out here, beyond the manicured streets, I developed
a connection that I never expected.
My local guide, Kang, started opening up to me, sharing his
dreams, his fears, and his worldview.
It's a cruel monarchy.
It's a cruel monarchy.
What he told me hit me harder than I ever anticipated.
Maybe the real journey here in North Korea is not about the destinations,
but one about confronting our deepest assumptions.
I'm never going to be able to speak
to him again after I leave here.


North Korea's Arch of Triumph
Before heading out into the countryside,
I had a moment of deja vu,
as it was time to take a quick stop at one of Pyongyang's most famous monuments,
aptly named the Arc of Triomphe.
Built in 1982 and a few metres taller than the one in Paris, of course.
And yes, it was pouring down with rain.
I'm a Brit.
This is normal for us. I feel right at home.
A quick dash across one of the main roads in Pyongyang.
Our guide led the charge, so naturally we followed because if you're
going to get hit by a car, it might as well be under government supervision.
Who would have thought?
No rules in this country, baby.
From the top of Pyongyang's impressive replica, with a view over the entire city,
something immediately struck me,
something oddly peaceful.
One thing I did not realise is such a stark contrast between North Korea


The most shocking difference in North Korea
and other countries, is the lack of advertisements here.
There are zero, apart from the propaganda signs that are spread around the city,
just like this one in the background here.
It's weird.
I'm not being bombarded with consumerism messages.
It's quite nice, I must say.
Oh, we're going down?
Okay.
Typical me standing around questioning societal norms.
I'd clearly forgotten I had a tight-knit schedule to stick to.
Still, the lack of advertising really stuck with me,
and it reminded me of a conversation I'd previously had with my guide, Kang.
We don't havepolitical slogans or anything, we just have adverts.
Not because I live in here, but I think political slogans are much
better because if you want to
live in a stable society, you have to...
Okay, this is just my idea, my opinion.
We have to be one.
The whole society should be one.
Should obey the government.
The time has finally come to venture out of the Capital,
a moment I was quietly excited for.
Beyond Pyongyang's polished streets lies a very different world,
one where the billboards are replaced by state slogans.
And as strange as it sounds, it was pretty refreshing not being
bombarded by ads every five seconds.
But then it hit me...
A world without adverts sounds great, sure.
But without them, well, how would I bankroll trips to secretive
regimes so that you don't have to?
Which is why this video video is sponsored by NordVPN.
Wherever you are in the world, okay, besides here in the North Korean countryside
using dodgy websites abroad or public airport
Wi-Fi's can be dangerous.
Using NordVPN is going to keep your connection safe and your data encrypted.
A use case that I personally use is to change my location when I'm booking
flights and hotels, as oftentimes this can get you a cheaper rate.
And while you watch the North Korean countryside roll on by,
I'm going to tell you about the exclusive deal Nord is currently running.
So if you'd like to support the channel and stay protected in the process,
sign up using the link down in the description, and that will get
you four months free on a two-year plan.
And with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee, it's completely risk-free.
And now we head back to a country that's never heard of a brand deal.


Time to see rural North Korea
Beyond the polished streets of Pyongyang lies a very different world.
One not meant for show, but in this silence, I started to realise,
behind every system, every ideology, there are just hard-working people,
living, working, and hoping to build a better future.
One question I have about the farms...
In the UK,
it's a private farm, so you sell what you grow.
Here, I know that they're state farms, right?
So people have to meet the quota, then the state will take it
and delegate it around equally, right?
Not equally.
Socialism is not so equalism.
The compensation is delivered according to your effort.
The farmland is separated
according to the family numbers.
For example, in my family, if there are three working forces,
we are given three acres.
And if my neighbour has four working forces, they are given four acres.
They grow up the crops.
After the harvest, they hand out a certain percentage of the
crops, and the other rest is theirs.
If they get above the amount that they need to give the state,
then they can keep it for themselves.
Yeah.
So then they may be able to sell a little?
Yes, they sell it and buy other things.
For some families, it's quite a great fortune, really.
We're at Dadaong Greenhouse.
It's huge.
Tonnes of greenhouses.
I think they're going to show us some way that they grow fruits and vegetables.
We're going to learn more about it in a minute, then I'll educate you also.
I was asleep.
Don't sleep on the way back. No?
No, it's fascinating, bro.
Not so much to see, like...
Yeah, not so much to see.
You mentioned last year was a busy year.


My guide tells me about recent natural disaster
Yeah, busy year for the country.
Yes, it was because
so many buildings,
like Hwasong Street.
10,000 new buildings each year.
And then there was some flood in the
northwestern part of the country.
It was such a disaster.
And we had to build dwelling houses.
Only in that area, 5,000 houses were destroyed, were all flooded.
The water was above the roof.
Did those people have other places to live, or did they live with friends,
or what did they do?
You mean the flooded areas?
Yeah, because that's a lot of people, right?
Yeah, I like your question.
At that time, our current leader,
Comrade Kim Jong Un, he visited the on his railway, and he looked
around the place, the flooded areas.
You saw on the newspaper or the magazine, he went
there and he consoled them.
The elderly people and young students, they came to the capital,
and they were provided a hotel.
And some of them lived in temporary tents provided by the state,
and all the food, clothing, were supplied.
Wow, good.
Then so those houses are being rebuilt, and then they will be able to move back?
Okay.
The flood was in July last year, and the construction workers, promised
that they would finish it by October.
But it's quite challenging, isn't it?
It's quite challenging, isn't it?
Actually, they finished the building in
December, and they started living there.
They celebrated New Year in the new house.
Oh, fantastic.


North Korean buildings are better than China's (supposedly)
I'm not sure exactly where this came from, but it seems Kang wanted to get
a quick dig in against China.
It's near the Amnok River.
The opposite side is the Chinese buildings.
They're in Dandong.
There're lots high-story buildings, 40-50 stories high.
But the thing is the architecture is very simple.
But our country is very...
A piece of art.
So you think the buildings here are better?
Yeah.
We're proud of it.
Yeah, because the architecture reflects everything, reflects our dreams,
our desire for the future.
Yeah, that's deep.
Our potential, our standards of art, everything.
Our leader is exhorting much more emphasis on construction.
Even though, of course, it's a little bit hard for us, right?
We're having construction in many areas.
But we have to.
So that our coming generations, live a happier and better life.
I fully support him.
When you connect on a human level, the place doesn't matter.
It's no longer about North Korea.
It's just people showing resilience, surviving and rebuilding
the lives that they once had.
As we left the bus and entered what used to be a military airstrip,
it felt like we were witnessing resilience in a new form, one that feeds and one
less concerned with military might.


How do North Koreans feed themselves?
President Kim Jong-Un came here? Yeah, he came here.
Wow. When was this?
15th May 2024.
He personally initiated the construction.
He initiated the construction?
He participated in the ground-breaking ceremony and completion ceremony.
It's a little bit beautiful, right?
This one is for the Pyongyang only or for the whole country?
Until now, there are three greenhouses in this country.
One like this one, but not as big as this one.
This is the most modern and the biggest.
The biggest one.
This food is being supplied just to Pyongyang or to residents.
Residents.
Residents all over the country or just to Pyongyang?
Just to our Pyongyang.
It means, whoever is devoting themself to the
accomplishment of the plan.
what does this one say?
Let us put the vegetable growing on a
scientific and concentrated basis.
So these signs, are they to motivate the workers?
This slogan, yeah.
so this is the new method of growing food.
This is the biggest greenhouse in the country.
Or the biggest area of greenhouses in the country.
And they've started this vertical farming method, which obviously has
a much higher yield of crops.
But interestingly, they said this will probably only
stabilise the food supply for Pyongyang.
Pyongyang has 12% of the country's population.
What that means for the rest of the country?
I'm not exactly sure.
We were just told that there are indeed no private farmers.
However, for the farms that are producing food for the state,
they have quotas to hit, and if they hit those quotas,
anything more, they can sell.
I suppose that is at least a motivating factor for them.
But I did not hear how difficult those quotas are to hit.
It makes you think, man.
Food supply is just something we take for granted nowadays.
I mean, because of the trade with other countries, you import what you don't
have and you export what you do have.
When you're a "self-reliant" country,
I use air quotes because the past few days
have made me realise that they are not totally self-reliant, actually.
Although it seems that at least our guides think that they are, well,
then you need to produce enough to feed the whole population of 25 million people.
And when you've got savage winters like they do here in North Korea,
it's going to be quite difficult.
We were then shown how they were using this new UV technology
to supercharge crops or something. I don't know.
I was clearly occupied with other things.
Anyway, I was more interested in having political and philosophical
debates with my new friend.
But before that, let me just interject for one second.


I'm doing a giveaway
As mentioned in the previous video, there were rules to a giveaway.
I'll link the video up here and down in the description so you
can see the rules for that.
But you'll be able to get your hands on some of these postcards,
Kim Jong Un aphorism's book, and the Pyongyang Times newspaper.
And not only that, something that you can definitely not get your hands on outside
of the country, and that is some of their local Won.
Check that video out.
You'll see the rules in there.
Thank you.


Democracy vs Communism with my local guide
In the UK, obviously, people have lots of different ideas.
Everyone thinks completely differently.
I understand it.
Sometimes that can lead to division.
It can lead to political fights or real fights.
What do you think about that?
I don't approve that.
I don't approve that because I completely disagree with it.
It's quite understandable.
i know your way of life.
your way of thinking.
Of course, I like it, but too many politicians fighting each other.
They only fight.
They only live for their own interests.
This only demolishes the country, demolishes the government, I think.
If they unite each other and they
follow only one rule, then I think it may
form a much stronger country.
The one question I would have then is, what if the person who decides what
the rule is decides on a bad rule or a bad ideology?
I think it's quite a very serious problem.
It's quite a serious problem.
It's not good.
It's cruel monarchy.
It's a cruel monarchy..
I really like your questions.
Our country has been a monarchy for thousands of years.
The difference between your Western culture and Eastern culture is that point.
European countries were ruled by a democracy/Senate.
Eastern countries, I mean, Asian countries were mainly ruled by monarchy.
So the king ruled the whole country with the bad rule, with the bad principle.
Some kings tried to do their best with their power, with their good morals.
But the middle-level guys, they try to get some wealth.
The farmers do their farming, and the serious should go
up to this centre, right?
But the middle-level guys, the middle-level officials, they took
away some of them for their wealth.
What can I say?
So are you talking about corruption? Corruption, right.
I'm not sure what is the main problem of your society, but in that monarchy,
corruption is the problem.
Is that something that you're worried about here?
No, no, no.
We have the state and the party.
The party is controlling all that stuff.
Corruption is everywhere. Right, it is.
It just works in a different way in my country. In a capitalist society,
when there's a new government going to be elected, companies will fund
the advertising campaign of the leader
that they want because they know that this
leader is going to support their business.
And of course, they expect favours in return if they win, right?
It's quite a good investment. Yeah, exactly.
So you end up having a country that's run by people who want to make money.
I think it's very difficult to have any system without corruption.
Because people are greedy.
Humankind has a lot of greed.
And people who want power, they'll do anything they can to keep
getting more money, more money, more power, more money, more power.
I had a question before and I've forgotten what it was.
You're always welcome.
Your question is always welcome.
I want to give you full answers, because I know that some
of you have misunderstandings about the country.
I know that.
Some of these guys are avoiding me.
Some guys said to me, Oh, you're doing a spy job.
007.
They still have some misunderstanding.
It's quite natural.
You have so many questions about this country.
Yeah, of course. I appreciate that.


Local guide says everything is changing in North Korea
So many projects in the past three years.
There has been a great development.
And I feel that there's been some change in my whole life.
Yeah, everything is changing.
And we might lead an affluent life,
a rich life in the very near future.
In January, 2021, there was an eighth party Congress
of the Workers' Party of Korea.
From this Congress, Mr. Kim Jong-Un, the current leader, he declared
that we should make a real change.
We should make a real change.
If the party set forth the line, it should be
carried out thoroughly.
Maybe it is little bit tiresome.
The work can be tiresome, but they are enduring for the coming generation.


Adverts vs Propaganda Slogans
Another thing that we haven't even touched on is that these slogans and stuff,
it gives you a purpose because there's a lot of people in Western countries now,
they haven't got a reason to live.
The way to to get past that is to find something that has meaning.
I'm doing this job because it's going to make my community better.
It's going to make my country better.
And that gives you the ability to do it.
I'm sorry, my English.
Don't worry.
I couldn't have this conversation with you in Korean.
I like your questions very much.


I had misunderstandings about North Korea
I'm very curious about everything.
Before coming here, I had a lot of misunderstandings,
a lot of misconceptions.
I believed a lot of the Western media, but not totally, because I already have
a lot of experience that taught me not to believe the media.
I wouldn't necessarily say that I want to be here.
I want it to be like this.
At least it gives me much more understanding.
Just like any other country, just like any other government or system,
there's good things, there's bad things, and it's for you to decide what you think.
At this point on the journey, one of my friends, also on the bus,


Me and Kang realise we'll never speak again
wanted to connect via WhatsApp.
At that point, Kang must have had a realisation.
Really, I shall miss all of you guys.
I'll miss you too, man.
Yeah, we've had some good conversations.
We got to know each other quite well.
Yeah.
Maybe I can unlock the intra web in the UK and I can message you.
Message...
Maybe I will have the...
Maybe I will have the chance to meet you, to chat with you on the Internet.
Honestly, just watching this back gives me a lump in my throat.
Us guys on the bus, so nonchalantely sharing numbers, knowing
that we'll continue to stay in contact.
For a moment, I'd forgotten that wasn't possible with Kang,
who I'd gotten very close with over the past for a couple of days.
This was a stark reminder of where we are.
And while it's okay to disagree with an ideology, it's imperative that we
separate that from the people who are subject to it.
They have the Internet house, right?
Yeah, Internet house, but it's not for chatting.
It's only for business purpose.
It's quite understandable for me.
Many people are not so accustomed to Western things.
The Western countries, I mean, the USA, is spreading bad
ideas about our country on the Internet.
I think it's good for ourselves, blocking the Internet.
It's good, right?
You think it's a good thing?
It's a good thing for the country.
With a heavy heart, in order to protect Kang, I
have to put a stop to this section of the conversation, and I will not
be responding to request if asked.
Fortunately or unfortunately for Kang, he might be too intelligent
for his own good.


Reflecting on making and losing a new friend
Wow.
I just had a bit of a moment on the bus on the way back to the hotel.
The youngest guy, Kang, I had a pretty deep conversation with him,
which left mixed emotions, to be honest.
I feel like we made pretty good friends.
We bonded a lot in that conversation.
He's the same age as me, and we have a lot in common.
I'm never going to be able to speak to him again after I leave here.
He said, It's his dream to see the UK.
I asked him, Do you think that would be possible someday?
And he stuttered a bit and said,
Yeah...
Yeah, you can just see it in someone's
eyes, the reality of the situation.
And he knew that, too.
I feel so silly.
They know.
They know the country is strict.
They know they have rules to follow, and we have to abide by those rules, too.
But our four guides...
Hold on, let me get myself together.
Our four guides,
we've earned their trust.
Two days in, we've earned their trust.
It's almost like it was the last day today, the
way we all bonded, the group we're with.
They're giving us as much freedom as they are possibly allowed to do.
I've just come to realise that we're all people, regardless of our ideology,
it's deeper than that. It's like on a human fundamental level.
It just made me really sad to know that I'll never be able to speak
to this guy again unless I come back.
Maybe I will,
but this feels like a one and done.
Yeah, that's it..



English










My North Korean Guide Reveals the Truth about his Country


Oli Barrett Travel27.8K subscribers


24,216 views Apr 26, 2025 NORTH KOREAEver wondered what life in North Korea is really like? My North Korean Guide Reveals the Truth about His Country... Get 4 months extra on a 2 year plan here: https://nordvpn.com/olitravel. It’s risk free with Nord’s 30 day money-back guarantee. #northkorea #dprk #pyongyang I sit down with Kang—my local guide turned confidant—to debunk myths, challenge assumptions, and show you Pyongyang (and beyond) through the eyes of someone who lives under the world’s tightest surveillance. We kick things off by asking “Why do you hate North Korea?” before marveling at the Arch of Triumph (three metres taller than Paris, naturally). Then comes the biggest surprise of all: rural DPRK, where former air bases are now greenhouses feeding the capital. Along the way, Kang opens up about natural disasters, debates democracy vs. communism, and insists North Korean buildings trump China’s—allegedly. We even tackle how ordinary people feed themselves. Plus, stick around for a cheeky giveaway featuring some of the quirkiest souvenirs I could get home. 'My North Korean Guide Reveals the Truth about his Country' is more than a travel vlog—it’s a lesson in humanity, compassion, and a friendship that defies borders. -

--------------------------------------- 

GIVEAWAY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Like this video 2. Follow me on Instagram @ / oli.barrett 3. Comment on giveaway Instagram post Thank you, and good luck!! 

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SUPPORT ME HERE: 💰 Patreon (early access & extended cuts): / olibarrett ---------------------------------------- SERVICES I USE: 📱 My travel eSIM: https://holafly.sjv.io/191eA9 💳 My travel debit card: https://transferwise.com/c/olibarrett 🏥 My travel insurance: https://genki.world/with/olibarrett ---------------------------------------- FIND ME HERE: 🌐 Website: / https://www.oli-barrett.com 📷 Instagram: / / oli.barrett 🔵 Facebook: / / olibarrettfb 🎥 TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@olibarretttra... ---------------------------------------- 

CHAPTERS: 

0:00 - Why do you hate North Korea? 

1:06 - North Korea's Arch of Triumph 

2:16 - The most shocking difference in North Korea 

4:48 - Time to see rural North Korea 

7:05 - My guide tells me about recent natural disaster 

9:14 - North Korean buildings are better than China's (supposedly) 

10:57 - How do North Koreans feed themselves? 

14:20 - I'm doing a giveaway 

14:48 - Democracy vs Communism with my local guide

  19:15 - Local guide says everything is changing in North Korea 

20:10 - Adverts vs Propaganda Slogans 

20:56 - I had misunderstandings about North Korea 

21:34 - Me and Kang realise we'll never speak again 

23:29 - Reflecting on making and losing a new friend 

Occasionally, subtitles are added for comedic effect only. This description contains affiliate links. I will earn a small commission if you purchase something using them (at no extra cost to you), so thank you! * 

------- C

hee Zee Jungle - Primal Drive by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. 

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Cylinder Two by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/ Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/








Chapters

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Why do you hate North Korea?
0:00



North Korea's Arch of Triumph
1:06


The most shocking difference in North Korea
2:16


Time to see rural North Korea
4:48


My guide tells me about recent natural disaster
7:05


North Korean buildings are better than China's (supposedly)
9:14


How do North Koreans feed themselves?
10:57


I'm doing a giveaway
14:20





Music1 songs










Cylinder Five
Chris ZabriskieCylinders


Music


Transcript


Follow along using the transcript.

Show transcript
=====

====

In this video

Why do you hate North Korea?

North Korea, a nation we just all love to hate.

But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why?

We're so quick to impose our morality onto other people.

To assume we understand what

freedom looks like or what happiness should be.

Hello.

I'm back in Pyongyang, the capital of the most secretive nation on Earth.

Today, we're leaving the city, passing by farmlands and military checkpoints.

But this time, I'm not staying for long.

This is where my entire perspective began to shift.

Because out here, beyond the manicured streets, I developed

a connection that I never expected.

My local guide, Kang, started opening up to me, sharing his

dreams, his fears, and his worldview.

It's a cruel monarchy.

It's a cruel monarchy.

What he told me hit me harder than I ever anticipated.

Maybe the real journey here in North Korea is not about the destinations,

but one about confronting our deepest assumptions.

I'm never going to be able to speak

to him again after I leave here.

North Korea's Arch of Triumph

Before heading out into the countryside,

I had a moment of deja vu,

as it was time to take a quick stop at one of Pyongyang's most famous monuments,

aptly named the Arc of Triomphe.

Built in 1982 and a few metres taller than the one in Paris, of course.

And yes, it was pouring down with rain.

I'm a Brit.

This is normal for us. I feel right at home.

A quick dash across one of the main roads in Pyongyang.

Our guide led the charge, so naturally we followed because if you're

going to get hit by a car, it might as well be under government supervision.

Who would have thought?

No rules in this country, baby.

From the top of Pyongyang's impressive replica, with a view over the entire city,

something immediately struck me,

something oddly peaceful.

One thing I did not realise is such a stark contrast between North Korea

The most shocking difference in North Korea

and other countries, is the lack of advertisements here.

There are zero, apart from the propaganda signs that are spread around the city,

just like this one in the background here.

It's weird.

I'm not being bombarded with consumerism messages.

It's quite nice, I must say.

Oh, we're going down?

Okay.

Typical me standing around questioning societal norms.

I'd clearly forgotten I had a tight-knit schedule to stick to.

Still, the lack of advertising really stuck with me,

and it reminded me of a conversation I'd previously had with my guide, Kang.

We don't havepolitical slogans or anything, we just have adverts.

Not because I live in here, but I think political slogans are much

better because if you want to

live in a stable society, you have to...

Okay, this is just my idea, my opinion.

We have to be one.

The whole society should be one.

Should obey the government.

The time has finally come to venture out of the Capital,

a moment I was quietly excited for.

Beyond Pyongyang's polished streets lies a very different world,

one where the billboards are replaced by state slogans.

And as strange as it sounds, it was pretty refreshing not being

bombarded by ads every five seconds.

But then it hit me...

A world without adverts sounds great, sure.

But without them, well, how would I bankroll trips to secretive

regimes so that you don't have to?

Which is why this video video is sponsored by NordVPN.

Wherever you are in the world, okay, besides here in the North Korean countryside

using dodgy websites abroad or public airport

Wi-Fi's can be dangerous.

Using NordVPN is going to keep your connection safe and your data encrypted.

A use case that I personally use is to change my location when I'm booking

flights and hotels, as oftentimes this can get you a cheaper rate.

And while you watch the North Korean countryside roll on by,

I'm going to tell you about the exclusive deal Nord is currently running.

So if you'd like to support the channel and stay protected in the process,

sign up using the link down in the description, and that will get

you four months free on a two-year plan.

And with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee, it's completely risk-free.

And now we head back to a country that's never heard of a brand deal.

Time to see rural North Korea

Beyond the polished streets of Pyongyang lies a very different world.

One not meant for show, but in this silence, I started to realise,

behind every system, every ideology, there are just hard-working people,

living, working, and hoping to build a better future.

One question I have about the farms...

In the UK,

it's a private farm, so you sell what you grow.

Here, I know that they're state farms, right?

So people have to meet the quota, then the state will take it

and delegate it around equally, right?

Not equally.

Socialism is not so equalism.

The compensation is delivered according to your effort.

The farmland is separated

according to the family numbers.

For example, in my family, if there are three working forces,

we are given three acres.

And if my neighbour has four working forces, they are given four acres.

They grow up the crops.

After the harvest, they hand out a certain percentage of the

crops, and the other rest is theirs.

If they get above the amount that they need to give the state,

then they can keep it for themselves.

Yeah.

So then they may be able to sell a little?

Yes, they sell it and buy other things.

For some families, it's quite a great fortune, really.

We're at Dadaong Greenhouse.

It's huge.

Tonnes of greenhouses.

I think they're going to show us some way that they grow fruits and vegetables.

We're going to learn more about it in a minute, then I'll educate you also.

I was asleep.

Don't sleep on the way back. No?

No, it's fascinating, bro.

Not so much to see, like...

Yeah, not so much to see.

You mentioned last year was a busy year.

My guide tells me about recent natural disaster

Yeah, busy year for the country.

Yes, it was because

so many buildings,

like Hwasong Street.

10,000 new buildings each year.

And then there was some flood in the

northwestern part of the country.

It was such a disaster.

And we had to build dwelling houses.

Only in that area, 5,000 houses were destroyed, were all flooded.

The water was above the roof.

Did those people have other places to live, or did they live with friends,

or what did they do?

You mean the flooded areas?

Yeah, because that's a lot of people, right?

Yeah, I like your question.

At that time, our current leader,

Comrade Kim Jong Un, he visited the on his railway, and he looked

around the place, the flooded areas.

You saw on the newspaper or the magazine, he went

there and he consoled them.

The elderly people and young students, they came to the capital,

and they were provided a hotel.

And some of them lived in temporary tents provided by the state,

and all the food, clothing, were supplied.

Wow, good.

Then so those houses are being rebuilt, and then they will be able to move back?

Okay.

The flood was in July last year, and the construction workers, promised

that they would finish it by October.

But it's quite challenging, isn't it?

It's quite challenging, isn't it?

Actually, they finished the building in

December, and they started living there.

They celebrated New Year in the new house.

Oh, fantastic.

North Korean buildings are better than China's (supposedly)

I'm not sure exactly where this came from, but it seems Kang wanted to get

a quick dig in against China.

It's near the Amnok River.

The opposite side is the Chinese buildings.

They're in Dandong.

There're lots high-story buildings, 40-50 stories high.

But the thing is the architecture is very simple.

But our country is very...

A piece of art.

So you think the buildings here are better?

Yeah.

We're proud of it.

Yeah, because the architecture reflects everything, reflects our dreams,

our desire for the future.

Yeah, that's deep.

Our potential, our standards of art, everything.

Our leader is exhorting much more emphasis on construction.

Even though, of course, it's a little bit hard for us, right?

We're having construction in many areas.

But we have to.

So that our coming generations, live a happier and better life.

I fully support him.

When you connect on a human level, the place doesn't matter.

It's no longer about North Korea.

It's just people showing resilience, surviving and rebuilding

the lives that they once had.

As we left the bus and entered what used to be a military airstrip,

it felt like we were witnessing resilience in a new form, one that feeds and one

less concerned with military might.

How do North Koreans feed themselves?

President Kim Jong-Un came here? Yeah, he came here.

Wow. When was this?

15th May 2024.

He personally initiated the construction.

He initiated the construction?

He participated in the ground-breaking ceremony and completion ceremony.

It's a little bit beautiful, right?

This one is for the Pyongyang only or for the whole country?

Until now, there are three greenhouses in this country.

One like this one, but not as big as this one.

This is the most modern and the biggest.

The biggest one.

This food is being supplied just to Pyongyang or to residents.

Residents.

Residents all over the country or just to Pyongyang?

Just to our Pyongyang.

It means, whoever is devoting themself to the

accomplishment of the plan.

what does this one say?

Let us put the vegetable growing on a

scientific and concentrated basis.

So these signs, are they to motivate the workers?

This slogan, yeah.

so this is the new method of growing food.

This is the biggest greenhouse in the country.

Or the biggest area of greenhouses in the country.

And they've started this vertical farming method, which obviously has

a much higher yield of crops.

But interestingly, they said this will probably only

stabilise the food supply for Pyongyang.

Pyongyang has 12% of the country's population.

What that means for the rest of the country?

I'm not exactly sure.

We were just told that there are indeed no private farmers.

However, for the farms that are producing food for the state,

they have quotas to hit, and if they hit those quotas,

anything more, they can sell.

I suppose that is at least a motivating factor for them.

But I did not hear how difficult those quotas are to hit.

It makes you think, man.

Food supply is just something we take for granted nowadays.

I mean, because of the trade with other countries, you import what you don't

have and you export what you do have.

When you're a "self-reliant" country,

I use air quotes because the past few days

have made me realise that they are not totally self-reliant, actually.

Although it seems that at least our guides think that they are, well,

then you need to produce enough to feed the whole population of 25 million people.

And when you've got savage winters like they do here in North Korea,

it's going to be quite difficult.

We were then shown how they were using this new UV technology

to supercharge crops or something. I don't know.

I was clearly occupied with other things.

Anyway, I was more interested in having political and philosophical

debates with my new friend.

But before that, let me just interject for one second.

I'm doing a giveaway

As mentioned in the previous video, there were rules to a giveaway.

I'll link the video up here and down in the description so you

can see the rules for that.

But you'll be able to get your hands on some of these postcards,

Kim Jong Un aphorism's book, and the Pyongyang Times newspaper.

And not only that, something that you can definitely not get your hands on outside

of the country, and that is some of their local Won.

Check that video out.

You'll see the rules in there.

Thank you.

Democracy vs Communism with my local guide

In the UK, obviously, people have lots of different ideas.

Everyone thinks completely differently.

I understand it.

Sometimes that can lead to division.

It can lead to political fights or real fights.

What do you think about that?

I don't approve that.

I don't approve that because I completely disagree with it.

It's quite understandable.

i know your way of life.

your way of thinking.

Of course, I like it, but too many politicians fighting each other.

They only fight.

They only live for their own interests.

This only demolishes the country, demolishes the government, I think.

If they unite each other and they

follow only one rule, then I think it may

form a much stronger country.

The one question I would have then is, what if the person who decides what

the rule is decides on a bad rule or a bad ideology?

I think it's quite a very serious problem.

It's quite a serious problem.

It's not good.

It's cruel monarchy.

It's a cruel monarchy..

I really like your questions.

Our country has been a monarchy for thousands of years.

The difference between your Western culture and Eastern culture is that point.

European countries were ruled by a democracy/Senate.

Eastern countries, I mean, Asian countries were mainly ruled by monarchy.

So the king ruled the whole country with the bad rule, with the bad principle.

Some kings tried to do their best with their power, with their good morals.

But the middle-level guys, they try to get some wealth.

The farmers do their farming, and the serious should go

up to this centre, right?

But the middle-level guys, the middle-level officials, they took

away some of them for their wealth.

What can I say?

So are you talking about corruption? Corruption, right.

I'm not sure what is the main problem of your society, but in that monarchy,

corruption is the problem.

Is that something that you're worried about here?

No, no, no.

We have the state and the party.

The party is controlling all that stuff.

Corruption is everywhere. Right, it is.

It just works in a different way in my country. In a capitalist society,

when there's a new government going to be elected, companies will fund

the advertising campaign of the leader

that they want because they know that this

leader is going to support their business.

And of course, they expect favours in return if they win, right?

It's quite a good investment. Yeah, exactly.

So you end up having a country that's run by people who want to make money.

I think it's very difficult to have any system without corruption.

Because people are greedy.

Humankind has a lot of greed.

And people who want power, they'll do anything they can to keep

getting more money, more money, more power, more money, more power.

I had a question before and I've forgotten what it was.

You're always welcome.

Your question is always welcome.

I want to give you full answers, because I know that some

of you have misunderstandings about the country.

I know that.

Some of these guys are avoiding me.

Some guys said to me, Oh, you're doing a spy job.

007.

They still have some misunderstanding.

It's quite natural.

You have so many questions about this country.

Yeah, of course. I appreciate that.

Local guide says everything is changing in North Korea

So many projects in the past three years.

There has been a great development.

And I feel that there's been some change in my whole life.

Yeah, everything is changing.

And we might lead an affluent life,

a rich life in the very near future.

In January, 2021, there was an eighth party Congress

of the Workers' Party of Korea.

From this Congress, Mr. Kim Jong-Un, the current leader, he declared

that we should make a real change.

We should make a real change.

If the party set forth the line, it should be

carried out thoroughly.

Maybe it is little bit tiresome.

The work can be tiresome, but they are enduring for the coming generation.

Adverts vs Propaganda Slogans

Another thing that we haven't even touched on is that these slogans and stuff,

it gives you a purpose because there's a lot of people in Western countries now,

they haven't got a reason to live.

The way to to get past that is to find something that has meaning.

I'm doing this job because it's going to make my community better.

It's going to make my country better.

And that gives you the ability to do it.

I'm sorry, my English.

Don't worry.

I couldn't have this conversation with you in Korean.

I like your questions very much.

I had misunderstandings about North Korea

I'm very curious about everything.

Before coming here, I had a lot of misunderstandings,

a lot of misconceptions.

I believed a lot of the Western media, but not totally, because I already have

a lot of experience that taught me not to believe the media.

I wouldn't necessarily say that I want to be here.

I want it to be like this.

At least it gives me much more understanding.

Just like any other country, just like any other government or system,

there's good things, there's bad things, and it's for you to decide what you think.

At this point on the journey, one of my friends, also on the bus,

Me and Kang realise we'll never speak again

wanted to connect via WhatsApp.

At that point, Kang must have had a realisation.

Really, I shall miss all of you guys.

I'll miss you too, man.

Yeah, we've had some good conversations.

We got to know each other quite well.

Yeah.

Maybe I can unlock the intra web in the UK and I can message you.

Message...

Maybe I will have the...

Maybe I will have the chance to meet you, to chat with you on the Internet.

Honestly, just watching this back gives me a lump in my throat.

Us guys on the bus, so nonchalantely sharing numbers, knowing

that we'll continue to stay in contact.

For a moment, I'd forgotten that wasn't possible with Kang,

who I'd gotten very close with over the past for a couple of days.

This was a stark reminder of where we are.

And while it's okay to disagree with an ideology, it's imperative that we

separate that from the people who are subject to it.

They have the Internet house, right?

Yeah, Internet house, but it's not for chatting.

It's only for business purpose.

It's quite understandable for me.

Many people are not so accustomed to Western things.

The Western countries, I mean, the USA, is spreading bad

ideas about our country on the Internet.

I think it's good for ourselves, blocking the Internet.

It's good, right?

You think it's a good thing?

It's a good thing for the country.

With a heavy heart, in order to protect Kang, I

have to put a stop to this section of the conversation, and I will not

be responding to request if asked.

Fortunately or unfortunately for Kang, he might be too intelligent

for his own good.

Reflecting on making and losing a new friend

Wow.

I just had a bit of a moment on the bus on the way back to the hotel.

The youngest guy, Kang, I had a pretty deep conversation with him,

which left mixed emotions, to be honest.

I feel like we made pretty good friends.

We bonded a lot in that conversation.

He's the same age as me, and we have a lot in common.

I'm never going to be able to speak to him again after I leave here.

He said, It's his dream to see the UK.

I asked him, Do you think that would be possible someday?

And he stuttered a bit and said,

Yeah...

Yeah, you can just see it in someone's

eyes, the reality of the situation.

And he knew that, too.

I feel so silly.

They know.

They know the country is strict.

They know they have rules to follow, and we have to abide by those rules, too.

But our four guides...

Hold on, let me get myself together.

Our four guides,

we've earned their trust.

Two days in, we've earned their trust.

It's almost like it was the last day today, the

way we all bonded, the group we're with.

They're giving us as much freedom as they are possibly allowed to do.

I've just come to realise that we're all people, regardless of our ideology,

it's deeper than that. It's like on a human fundamental level.

It just made me really sad to know that I'll never be able to speak

to this guy again unless I come back.

Maybe I will,

but this feels like a one and done.

Yeah, that's it..

English

My North Korean Guide Reveals the Truth about his Country

Oli Barrett Travel

27.8K subscribers

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24,216 views Apr 26, 2025 NORTH KOREA

Ever wondered what life in North Korea is really like? My North Korean Guide Reveals the Truth about His Country...

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#northkorea #dprk #pyongyang I sit down with Kang—my local guide turned confidant—to debunk myths, challenge assumptions, and show you Pyongyang (and beyond) through the eyes of someone who lives under the world’s tightest surveillance. We kick things off by asking “Why do you hate North Korea?” before marveling at the Arch of Triumph (three metres taller than Paris, naturally). Then comes the biggest surprise of all: rural DPRK, where former air bases are now greenhouses feeding the capital. Along the way, Kang opens up about natural disasters, debates democracy vs. communism, and insists North Korean buildings trump China’s—allegedly. We even tackle how ordinary people feed themselves. Plus, stick around for a cheeky giveaway featuring some of the quirkiest souvenirs I could get home. 'My North Korean Guide Reveals the Truth about his Country' is more than a travel vlog—it’s a lesson in humanity, compassion, and a friendship that defies borders. ---------------------------------------- GIVEAWAY INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Like this video 2. Follow me on Instagram @   / oli.barrett   3. Comment on giveaway Instagram post Thank you, and good luck!! ---------------------------------------- SUPPORT ME HERE: 💰 Patreon (early access & extended cuts):   / olibarrett   ---------------------------------------- SERVICES I USE: 📱 My travel eSIM: https://holafly.sjv.io/191eA9 💳 My travel debit card: https://transferwise.com/c/olibarrett 🏥 My travel insurance: https://genki.world/with/olibarrett ---------------------------------------- FIND ME HERE: 🌐 Website: / https://www.oli-barrett.com 📷 Instagram: /   / oli.barrett   🔵 Facebook: /   / olibarrettfb   🎥 TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@olibarretttra... ---------------------------------------- CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Why do you hate North Korea? 1:06 - North Korea's Arch of Triumph 2:16 - The most shocking difference in North Korea 4:48 - Time to see rural North Korea 7:05 - My guide tells me about recent natural disaster 9:14 - North Korean buildings are better than China's (supposedly) 10:57 - How do North Koreans feed themselves? 14:20 - I'm doing a giveaway 14:48 - Democracy vs Communism with my local guide 19:15 - Local guide says everything is changing in North Korea 20:10 - Adverts vs Propaganda Slogans 20:56 - I had misunderstandings about North Korea 21:34 - Me and Kang realise we'll never speak again 23:29 - Reflecting on making and losing a new friend Occasionally, subtitles are added for comedic effect only.

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------- Chee Zee Jungle - Primal Drive by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Cylinder Two by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/cylinders/ Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/ Happy Alley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Chapters

Why do you hate North Korea?

0:00

North Korea's Arch of Triumph

1:06

The most shocking difference in North Korea

2:16

Time to see rural North Korea

4:48

My guide tells me about recent natural disaster

7:05

North Korean buildings are better than China's (supposedly)

9:14

How do North Koreans feed themselves?

10:57

I'm doing a giveaway

14:20

Transcript

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First time in North Korea: The Propaganda is Working…

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