April 28, 2024
Evergreen

Fun times: How to enjoy a stay in North Korea

A few clubs, hotels, travel opportunities cater to expats facing crippling boredom

When recently talking to a senior Western diplomat, I learned that heavy drinking and associated psychological problems are considered normal occupational hazards among Western diplomatic personnel currently stationed in Pyongyang. In the late 1980s, I heard something quite similar from the Soviet embassy staff.

Indeed, Pyongyang has never been a good place for an expat, and the mid-1980s were no exception to this rule.

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