Want to know more about North Korea? These are 20 Interesting Facts that you probably didn’t know about the country! I want to challenge you as well.. How many of these 20 facts did you know BEFORE reading this? Count them and let me know!
1: It’s Year 107, Not 2019
Former leader Kim Il-sung
The year isn’t 2019. The North Korean or Juche calendar was adopted in 1997 and begins with the year of Kim Il-sung’s date of birth (1912 – or Juche I to North Koreans.)
2: The Country Holds “Elections” Every 5 Years
Always with a lot of excitement, North Korea hands out ballots with only one option on them, so votes swing, you guessed it, 100% for the Leader.
3: There Are Few Working Traffic Lights
There are not many traffic lights in North Korea and they have been working off and on for at least seven years. The traffic girls are occasionally sidelined when the traffic lights are working.
4: No North Korea Stamp In Foreign Passports
In North Korea you don’t get a stamp in your passport and it actually makes it a lot easier in any Airport immigration afterwards! You get a separate visa that you have to deliver back when you exit the country.
5: North Korea’s Has The Only One-Star Airline In The World
North Korea has ‘The World’s Only One-Star Airline’, Air Koryo, run by the North Korean Government. See for yourself what it’s like to fly on Air Koryo — the worst airline in the world.
6: World’s Largest Stadium
The Rungnado May Day stadium in North Korea has more than 150,000 seats. To comparison Barcelona’s Camp Nou has a seating capacity of 99,354 and is the largest football stadium in Europe. Wow, just wow!
7: Kim Il-Sung is seen as the ‘Eternal Leader’
Statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
Kim Il-Sung will always be considered North Korea’s Eternal Leader, even though Kim Jong-Un is the Supreme Leader of North Korea now. Kim Il-Sung’s statue is raising the hand in the sky to the left.
8: Pyongyang Is Only For The Elite
Life in Pyongyang, North Korea (@gustavrosted)
The capital Pyongyang, one of North Korea’s only big cities, is home to around three million people, but only the elite. Only trustworthy, healthy, and loyal citizens can live there.
9: Kim Il-Sung Scammed Sweden For 1000 Cars
Kim Il-Sung scammed Sweden out of 1,000 Volvo 144 sedans in 1974, and to this date North Korea has never made the payment. Now I understand why he had this million dollar smile!
10: One Of The Largest Armies in the World
North Korea has one of the largest armies in the world. It is estimated by the U.S. State Department that they have an active-duty military force of up to 1.2 million personnel.
11: ‘Three Generations of Punishment Policy’
With a North Korean family
There is a ‘three generations of punishment policy’ in North Korea. The offender, along with his next two generations, has to bear the consequences of the offense.
12: North Korea has no taxes.
North Korea is one of the few countries in the world whose residents don’t pay any taxes. Taxation was abolished in 1974 as part of the “old world.” Only organizations and individuals who are making money outside the country are not released from it. However, everything might change soon: it is rumored that the government is planning to reintroduce income tax in the near future.
13: Kim Jong-un Is Unique
In North Korea, it’s officially forbidden to give children the name borne by their Leader. If a child had been named like this before his accession, the parents must urgently change the name!
14: They Have Their Own ‘Intranet’
In Kaesong in the southern part of North Korea. No cars, like walking back in time!
North Korea has their own intranet – “Kwangmyong.” It opened in 2000 and includes a browser, email, news and search capabilities. No open internet as it exists in other parts of the world.
15: North Koreans Are Convinced Korea Is One Country
If you take a political map of the world made in any other country, you’ll see both North and South Korea on it. However, North Koreans are certain that there is only one Korea: any school map shows a united country with the capital of Pyongyang.
16: They Only Have Three TV Channels
There are only 3 TV Channels in North Korea. Which leaves me wondering how many families might be in prison for illegally watching soap operas from South Korea..
17: North Korea Has Death Penalty
Death given are sentenced for distributing pornography, watching movies not approved by the governments and possessing Bibles.
North Korea one of the last six countries to still perform public executions after Saudi Arabia, Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, and Yemen.
18: Bill Gates Net Worth Is Three Times Larger Than NK
Bill Gates’ net worth is more than three times larger than North Korea’s annual GDP, as of 2017.
19: Almost Impossible To Walk Freely In North Korea
You need a guide to walk around North Korea as a tourist. I was extremely lucky to go during a special time, so I could walk around freely on several occasions. Watch this video on how it was possible for me.
20: Tourism Is A Very Small Part Of The Country’s Economy
Walking around freely in North Korea
Tourism is a very small part of the country’s economy. Due to government restrictions, only around 5,000 Western travelers per year make the trip. To compare London attracted 20.42 million international visitors in 2018. Big difference? Indeed so!
After 7 years of lots of traveling and 120 countries, I want to share with you ‘My 20 Most Essential Travel Items.’
I usually travel with a 40 liter backpack and I try not to bring too much unnecessary stuff. I want to be flexible and easy moving. However a lot of these 20 travel items are essential for my travels.
I just landed in the Azores after a 2 months trip through West Africa, and I was so happy that I brought my essential travel items on the trip. Everything just got so much easier!
Here in Mali. Essential travel items are important during 2 months in West Africa
20 Most Essential Travel Items (Tips From A Pro-Traveler!)
Every year there are new travel gadgets and gear upgrades coming on the market. If you search “travel” on Amazon you might quickly want to make 10-15 purchases, but not all of these travel items are actually worth packing. I’ve learned to minimize my travel gear, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have a few luxury items in there. There are some things in my packs that you’ve most likely never heard of, and others that are common, but I feel these travels items should be obligatory for long-term travel. Here is the list!
1.Osprey Fairpoint 40 Liter Backpack
I had a lot of Backpacks in my life, some good and some bad. I only had one excellent, which covered all of my needs. This Osprey Fairpoint 40 Liter Backpack is certainly much better than just about every travel backpack. It fits in Carry On on most Airlines, which saves you A LOT OF MONEY and I love its durability, carry, and hideaway harness system. Awesome look, very comfortable to wear. One of my best investment!
2. Zipper Cubes
Mesh packing cubes
I purchased Eagle Creek Zipper Cubesand they’re incredibly durable. I had them since 2017 and sometimes I’ve packed them so tight that I had to kneel on them and pull on the zippers just to do them up. To this day, the zippers are still working like brand new. There are a lot of options on the market today, but I’ve only used Eagle Creek, because I know they last. When you get the Eagle Creek, you’ll ask yourself “why didn’t I buy them years ago?!” Trust me! I had that EXACT feeling! So nice to have!
3. DJI Spark
Back in 2014, drones were mostly reserved for professional videographers, vloggers and bloggers who wanted arial photography. These days, drones have become smaller, more durable and a lot easier to fly.
The DJI Spark is so tiny that it can pretty much fit into any backpack or luggage. It comes with a hard foam case to keep it protected and it takes great videos and photos. If you like to get unique photos while you’re travelling, then this thing is perfect. FINALLY a drone that’s affordable, small and easy to navigate!
Check out the drone footage my friend and I did with the DJI Spark in Lake Assal, Djibouti here!
4. Power Bank
If I had to pick only one thing of these 20 Travel Items where you shouldn’t save money, I would pick the Power bank.
My favourite Power bank is by far ‘The Anker PowerCore’ with 20100mAh. After having had a lot of different Power banks, because I usually forget them somewhere or they burn out, I always go back to this one. ‘The Anker PowerCore’ is fast charging, it doesn’t burn out, and with its high power capacity it can usually charge my phone 4-5 times fully, sometimes 6.
When I traveled in West Africa I went long periods without electricity, and you really want to be able to use your phone in these situations. Therefore you NEED a good, powerful and reliable Power bank, which can charge your phone many times and can resist bad weather conditions.
‘The Anker PowerCore’ is perfect for me.
5. TRTL Pillow
TRTL Pillow
I’ve just passed 400 flights and I’ve slept on 95% of them! It’s both a good and bad habit to sleep on the plane, good because I’m then rested when I reach my destination, but it’s bad because I end up sleeping in awkward position, which usually cause a lot of neck or hand pain the day after. Few weeks ago I bought the TRTL Pillow and I’ve been really satisfied. It gives scientifically proven super soft neck support and the day after a flight now feels a lot better for me with the neck support and comfort if offers whilst you sleep.
There is a manual on how to put it on (SO EASY!) and it literally doesn’t take 2 seconds to do!
6. Good Compact Camera
Every traveller needs to be carrying a good pocket camera. If you really don’t care about what your photos look like and never plan to take pictures in low light, then your iPhone or Android device should do the trick (assuming it’s a newer model with 10+ megapixels). I like to bring a small camera that takes no space.
If you want to take some better photos and great videos while you’re travelling, without packing the size and weight of a full DSLR or mirrorless, then I recommend the Sony A6000 with 24.3 Megapixels. To compare my IPhone X has a 12-megapixel camera. The Sony A6000 camera has some incredible features, takes great photos, and produces some of the best video of any camera in its class. EASY to use and it takes no time to connect it to your phone. I’ve connected it to both my Samsung (android) and to IPhone easily!
The Sony A6000 takes some amazing photos! Here I brought it to Cape Town, South Africa. @gustavrosted
7. Luggage Tracker
Ever lost your luggage? I have, and to be honest I promised myself I would pick up one of these things after Turkish Airlines lost my luggage back in 2016. I “forgot” to buy one and in Oktober of 2017 when Air Astana misplaced my luggage, I thought it was the right time.
On both occasions, I was able to get my luggage back in a week, but it’s an absolutely horrible feeling you have that you’ll never see your backpack again. If I just had the Luggage Tracker in my bag, I would have known exactly what airport they were at and I could’ve even told the airline so that they could retrieve it faster for me. I use the GEGO Luggage Tracker, and I got it after the Trakdot didn’t work properly on 3G network any longer. I’ve been satisfied with it, as it’s generally known that the GEGO is best luggage tracker on the market, tracking very precise and fast. Bluetooth connection is great, where Trakdot was always finicky in every way. Still haven’t found a better product than GEGO and the Map View is great too!
8. Polarized Sunglasses
Kayaking Halong Bay, Vietnam
My secret addiction: Sunglasses and especially for Ray-Bans! Why? Stylish look, 100% UV PROTECTION, (protecting the eyes from the harmful UV rays) and just an iconic look, shape, feel, and style. One thing I don’t save money on for sure, and they’re usually a long-term investment, which will always be modern!
A travel backpack is an ESSENTIAL item. You should invest in a sturdy, comfortable backpack which you can carry all day long. Anti-theft backpack is what I recommend. I use the Affinity USB Backpack as my day backpack to combine with my Osprey Fairpoint 40 Liter Backpack. One of the good things about the Affinity USB Backpack is it can fit in the Osprey Fairpoint 40 Liter, so sometimes I put it in there and bring it in the carry-on, so I don’t need to pay to for check-in baggage – travel like a boss! I know!
This Affinity USB Backpack helps me to store my electronics, travel documents (RFID protection,) powerbank, toilet bag etc, and have comfortable and adjustable straps. I’m a big fan of this anti-theft secured backpack with a USB charging port that fits a 15.6 MacBook.
10: MacBook Pro
I bring my MacBook Pro with me everywhere for travel, and it’s obviously the best computer I’ve ever had! Once you go Mac, you never go back! I have this MacBook Pro (13-inch with a 2.3GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM and with a 256GB SSD in Space Gray.) I bought in on Amazon and its been perfect so far!
The first MacBook I had lasted for 7 years, and it’s always a good investment to get a proper MacBook in my opinion. For me and my Digital Nomad lifestyle it’s an asset I can’t live without, and I need a computer that can go through rough roads and rain season in West Africa, which has been the case with this one!
Of course, always be careful with your computer and don’t do stupid stuff 😉
10. Bluetooth Speakers
Everyone travels with their Bluetooth Speakers. When you’re getting ready to go out for the night or just chilling on your beach hut patio looking out at sunset, having a bit of music playing in the background can really set the mood. If you’re traveling solo like me mostly, it’s usually a very good way to make new friends to bring a Bluetooth Speaker, put on some good music and get the vibes going!
Not just any bluetooth speakers do it for me. Had plenty, but I love a nice mix of durability and excellent sound. I currently have the JBL Splashproof Portable Speaker, and it has amazing sound. Plus, I use it with wet hands at the beach and it hasn’t been damaged yet. The latest model, the JBL Waterproof Flip 3 Speakers are so waterproof that you can even submerge them in water and not ruin them, and they’re lightweight and very durable. You can take them to the beach and not worry about them getting wet or sandy and they sound crystal clear. For just $99.99 on Amazon, they’re also an excellent deal.
11: Dock & Bay Microfiber Towel
A travel towel is key – and I usually recommend a basic microfiber travel towel, cheap and easy in your local shop. But last year, I learned about Dock & Bay Microfiber Towel, which is one of the best Quick Dry Towels and said to be the most original SAND FREE Beach Towel there is. These towels are honestly awesome and more lightweight than other microfiber towels, but are also amazing for the beach. They dry really fast, more than 3 times as fast as a normal towel. I pack mine in the bottom of my personal item backpack and never know it’s taking up space but it’s always there when I need it.
I like this the model in Bondi Blue! Sand free, quick drying, odorless and colorful too!
12. Baseball Cap
Like here in a small village Senegal and most of the hot places I travel, I like to wear a Baseball Cap to protect my face against the sun. Absolutely convenient and a must-have for me to bring on every travel! They don’t take up any space and are perfect for hiding your hair when it looks absolutely terrible! 🙂
13. Toilet Bag
My toilet bag broke on my long journey through Africa and it really sucks when that happens! To be honest everything was a mess in it, so maybe it was meant to happen for a reason. I just bought this Premium Quality Organized Travel Bag, and it’s an absolute game-changer! Now all of my toilet things are where they should be! Love it!
14. Multi-Port Cables
With all the electronic items that you will be carrying on your travels, keeping them charged and up to date is essential. I swear by this multi port cable. I was given a sample of this cable years ago when and it’s an AMAZING item to keep forever. A charging cable, with multiple ports like for your iphone, Kindle, camera, or a battery back-up.
You might be aware each of these devices listed above use different ports like the micro USB, USB and lightning cable, etc. Using this cable you can charge all of them. Yes – at the same time if you like.
15. Universal Adaptor
As a frequent traveler, a universal adaptor is a MUST. I still remember my first big travel where I didn’t thought of bringing this before it was too late, and had to buy a super expensive universal adaptor for $40 in an Airport. This multi-country adaptor is only $12,99 and has 2 USB ports to plug in and charge the electronic item in over 150 countries. So definitely a good investment. You will be carrying some electronic device (a phone, camera, tablet or laptop) with you on your travels. Universal adaptors will help you to plugin your device in any power outlet across the world to charge its battery for use. So important!
16. Collapible Water-Bottle
Waterbottle is an essential item on your travels. Whether you are hiking or on a full day tour and exploring, you SHOULD stay hydrated and carry a waterbottle. In countries where water is expensive, fill it up from the hotel. I use this LEAK FREE, vacuum insulated Alpha Armur Bottle, because I HATE to get water in my bag where I have my electronics and because I don’t like the concept of buying plastic bottles all the time in countries where they don’t know how to recycle the plastic properly.
This waterbottle is totally a Win-Win! And it definitely saves you money in the long run..
17. Travel Organizer
Travel Organizer for documents are so handy! They are a MUST have to organize and secure your credit cards, printed boarding passes, passport, any quick notes like hotel address, emergency contact information, etc. I know you might think, in the age of technology why bother with printed boarding pass? Trust me, not all airports will accept barcode/digital boarding passes and what if your phone is frozen and cannot be scanned, especially in Africa!
Also, your passports and credit cards are not digital, you will need a wallet with RFID protection (to protect against identity theft) or a travel organizer like this one. I use this travel organizer, to keep all the travel documents in one place. Invest in a piece that is not bulky, yet has enough rooms for passport, credit or ID cards, money, paper, pen and boarding pass, with RFID protection.
18. A Day or Two of Toiletries
I can’t count how many times I’ve had a Sun Lotion, Perfume etc. over 100 ml taken from me in the security control in Airports. It was first after I discovered these small Go Tube Travel Bottlesthis finally ended! Really good to have for personal hygiene. Very durable and don’t leak despite being repacked daily as I stayed in many different hotels and places! I’m a big fan of these! The other travel bottles I had were usually leaking and it sucks to open your toilet bag and find out a shampoo is now all over your toothbrush!
These ones are honestly very good to have!
18. Travel Insurance
No one wants to buy travel insurance. I get it. We all think the incident doesn’t happen to me. But what happens when a monkey bites you in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and you need to get a quick rabies injection or you get malaria in Ivory Coast. Then you’re screwed! Unless you have a good Travel Insurance-
I prefer Worlds Nomads. Honestly, I hate worrying about my stuff while I travel. World Nomads gives me the peace of mind I need when it comes to gear. When my bag got stolen in Argentina, we took the proper steps by filing a police report and submitting our paperwork and they covered our losses. No muss, no fuss. It was great.
Plus, their One-Call 24-Hour Assistance Services offer multilingual pros to help you find a local doctor, dentist, or hospital abroad, and they can even arrange transportation to get you there.
19. First Aid
When it comes to travel first aid, think of anything you might have trouble hunting down in a foreign pharmacy and bring at least one. I’m not a big fan of taking pills, medicine and whenever I can avoid it I do. But I do like to have a little medicine for emergency situations and what I personally bring for my travel is:
1: Imodium (Stomach problems, anti-diarrhea.) After drinking the wrong ice cubes in India these are absolutely life-savers!
2: Systane Eye-Drops. I have dry eyes, and in countries where you deal with a lot of dust etc, I need eye-drops, otherwise I can’t see properly, my eyes get scratchy and sometimes red. Systane eye-drops helped me so much in Africa.
3: Paracetamol Tablets. For me they are the most important. Every time I’m about to get sick, it usually helps taking one of these and drink some water. I use the Danish brand Panodil and like to take one when I feel bad, because they usually better the situation.
4: Zyrtec Allergy Relief.I have allergy for grass, dust and some special perfumes and when it’s worst I use Zyrtec Allergy Relief to recover from sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes. Also relief from itchy throat or nose.
5: Band Aids. I never travel without these. You never no when you’re going to hurt yourself! 🙂
20: Windproof Travel Umbrella
While other umbrellas get easily flipped in the wind & break, the this Compact Travel Umbrella has a vented Double Canopy that allows the wind to pass through, preventing it from flipping over and breaking in strong winds. That’s one feature I really appreciate. I can’t count how many umbrellas I have watched die in strong winds, but this one is a survivor! And it doesn’t take a lot of space!
A Last Remember
Last but not least remember to bring copy of your passport, proof of vaccinations and maybe some small passport photos! You now have all the Travel Essentials and remember the only IMPOSSIBLE journey is the one you never begin, so pack your bag and go! ✈️
A travel backpack is an ESSENTIAL item. You should invest in a sturdy, comfortable backpack which you can carry all day long. Anti-theft backpack is what I recommend. I use the 
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