Just been reading the tourism site and here's some parts of the Suggestions of how to make your trip to DPRK pleasant:
Suggestions for a Pleasant Trip
If you would like to make the best of your visit, we recommend following the basic principles set out below. These will help to maximise your enjoyment of your visit and make sure you don’t fall into any tricky situations. Indeed, we strongly advise our customers to follow these guidelines, to avoid getting both yourselves and your guides into potentially grave circumstances.
1. If you are a journalist, please tell us!
You may be under the impression you won’t be allowed access if you declare this. In fact this is not the case. The only problem is that you need a different sort of visa. As long as you tell us straight away of your profession, this is achieved without difficulty. Problems arise when you apply for a standard visa and we discover your occupation, which usually results in a barring of entry to the country or if already in situ, being chucked out! As long as you have genuine reasons for travel you will be most welcome.
2. Ask permission before taking photos and shooting film!
The DPRK is particularly hot on security and even apparently innocent scenes such as day to day life may be prohibited. Any photos of the military, check-points and close ups of people may cause unpleasant situations and put both yourself and you guides at risk. If you manage to gain the confidence of your guides, are pleasant and willing to <span style='color:red'>‘play the game’</span> then you will receive some amazing photo opportunities
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3. Don’t leave your hotel/group without telling your guides! </u>
Again, its all down to security. If you fancy some fresh air and a stretch of the legs, just ask and you will most likely be allowed.
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Your Guides</u>
You will find the guides to be very efficient and helpful throughout your stay. Just as you will be interested in finding out more about their country, so they will be intrigued by your own. In this way, there is usually ample conversation potential, and most people who visit say the it was the guides who made the tour for them.
With this in mind, we must stress that if you do break the guidelines laid out above and below, you will place your guides under sever, unnecessary pressure which may harm your relationship with them. If you do wish to do something ‘unplanned,’ then it is best to be as pleasant and respectful as possible to your guides, who control your entire trip. You will find that if this is so, you will be given greater opportunities in doing and seeing what you want to do than if you are simply rude and disrespectful.
It is also highly recommended to bring along some gifts from your home country to present to your guides at the end of your visit. Korean men, who smoke like chimneys, are particularly partial to duty free cigarettes (Rothmans and Dunhill seem to be the favourites), whilst ladies will be satisfied with scent, delicacies and ornamental objects. It is something of a tradition to present these on the final night of your visit, where you can host a dinner wih your guides at a favourite restaurant, maybe over traditional Korean Galbi (barbecue)
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Etiquette</u>
Remember, this is not mass-market tourism. You are being ‘invited’ into the country by the DPRK authorities and should behave accordingly.
Please show respect to the ‘system’. By this, we mean the people, the way of life, indeed, the country in general. If you don’t like a certain aspect of it, don’t go shouting your mouth off telling anyone in earshot! Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but you will find the trip far more enjoyable if you keep any criticisms to yourself and approach everything with an open mind.
The two leaders of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are treated with the utmost reverence by all citizens. If you think you may find it difficult to bow to certain statues of these figures out of respect, then maybe you should reconsider your trip. Any rude or disrespectful remarks will be detrimental to your relationship with your guides and will result in a far less enjoyable experience.
Finally, all North Koreans dress smartly and this is one place on earth where jeans and a T-shirt will really stand out. Smart clothing will help convey a friendlier message and will show citizens that you have a basic level of respect.
In conclusion, the success of the trip very much lies in your hands. If you are willing to go along and <span style='color:red'>‘play the game,’</span> are pleasant in nature and open minded, you can grasp all the remarkable opportunities that the country will offer you. If you are rude and confrontational you will be given the least opportunities to see what the country really has to offer and may well cause trouble for yourself and your guides.
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Customs:</u>
Besides the usual restrictions regarding firearms and narcotics, there are other items which may not be brought into the country. These include radios, modems, transmitters, GPS systems, pornography and telescopes. In particular, publications, video tapes, films, photos and other material hostile to the DPRK will not be taken lightly.
