The following article is the ninth in a multipart series by Gareth Johnson of Young Pioneer Tours about being a North Korea tour guide. Views expressed in columns are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News.

North Korea is in many ways a similar travel experience as many other countries. There are, of course, unavoidable idiosyncrasies that, for many, are part of the appeal but for some can be seen as strange or off-putting. 

Part of this means that some tourist sites are not visited unless travelers request a specific itinerary and the DPRK approves.