This documentary was created through a large assortment of amateur footage taken during the April 2012 trip. We hope this provides an insight you’ve never had before about the DPRK. I’ve spent most of the summer editing this thing, and I hope you enjoy it.
Note: Not the perfect cut. Some minor footage bugs near the beginning of the film are noticeable. And YouTube has a tendency to make the audio go out of sync 
Pyongyang, the City of Secrets
Apr 30, 2013
Interview With Cyrus Kirkpatrick on KVOA Channel 4
Apr 15, 2013
Select Images from the April 2013 North Korea Trip
Apr 9, 2013
CNN Features Our North Korea Group
Apr 8, 2013
Was Oprah Winfrey, Captain Picard and James Bond in North Korea?
Apr 8, 2013
Back from Incredible DPRK Expedition
Apr 8, 2013
2 comments
Chris says:
Oct 23, 2012
Even though I thought this film was a little bit like Bill & Ted’s Most Excellent Adventure (North Korea style), I think it is the most positive and optimistic view of North Korea – from an American perspective – that I have ever seen.
I was astounded to see that you were actually allowed to interact and talk to ordinary North Koreans – albeit you were in Pyonyang for most of the time which is the country’s ‘showcase’ capital. They seemed like very warm and genuine people. Despite this sense of staged and manicured surroundings, I sensed that there was real and honest friendship shown by the people who you met; this aspect was certainly not choreographed, or at least it didn’t seem that way.
This brings my onto an issue: in countless other documentaries that I’ve seen filmed of DPK – we were told by the (usually American) commentators and journalists that the locals aren’t even permitted to look foreign visitors in the eye, else they risk ‘severe’ punishment. Here, your video seems to contradict such statements. So the question has to be: has DPK suddenly decided to open up a little more to the outside world – and more importantly – who has made that decision?
Did you feel this was the case during your visit?
I hope – in the future – the DPRK can open up the rest of its country to foreign eyes and that this new “glasnost” can, more importantly, bring about a better change for North Koreans themselves. Sadly, I don’t think this will happen for the forseeable future.
There are still vast swathes of the country which are out of bounds.
Nevertheless, a great video (despite naivety in places). You really have given us a very refreshing and much needed alternative view of this country. I would like to know how you managed to arrange the tour. I would also recommend that many people watch this video (especially here in the west)
There was, however, one chilling moment I thought. This was the Korean with an American accent. Was he posing as a visitor – or was he a NK guide? You interviewed him on the roadside in the town.
All the best in your future movie making (would like to know how to arrange getting to DPRK).
Chris
(UK)
Cyrus says:
Nov 18, 2012
Actually we only spent about half the time in Pyongyang. The rest of the time was spent in places like Wonsan / Hamhung, a beach resort out in the middle of nowhere, etc. More of our interaction with locals happened beyond Pyongyang. Not only could we look people in the eye but our guides had no problems with showing us everything. We saw really bad poverty, people picking for grubs to eat out of the soil, and malnourished soldiers.
Maybe now the place is a lot more open than before, or we were just lucky. My assumption is that the country is a lot more comfortable with tourists, and they want to promote more open tourism so they can make more revenue.
Our guide told me at the end her favorite part of the trip was how we went out of our way to play with children on the street. They helped facilitate that type of stuff versus prevent it.