After briefly reopening its borders, North Korea has once again restricted foreign tourist access. This time, the reason isn’t health concerns but rather online videos exposing the staged nature of tours and revealing a reality far removed from the country’s official propaganda.
Following five years of isolation, Pyongyang cautiously allowed limited tourism in the Rason Special Economic Zone. However, within weeks, authorities imposed new restrictions, citing “negative content” being shared on social media. In truth, these videos showed what the North Korean government has long tried to conceal—signs of poverty, deserted streets in supposedly lively areas, and artificially orchestrated encounters with locals.
One such video, released by Polish content creator Ojwojtek, captured how every tourist’s movement was closely monitored, with a camera following them at all times. Not only were routes strictly controlled, but every interaction seemed scripted, with “random passersby” appearing more like actors in a carefully directed performance. Still, some footage inadvertently exposed the harsh reality—dilapidated buildings, limited access to everyday goods, and locals watching from a distance, unable to interact freely.
For years, North Korea has sought to control its image, but modern technology and social media are making it increasingly difficult to suppress inconvenient truths. The decision to reclose borders is yet another desperate move by a regime struggling to maintain a façade in an age where information spreads across the world in mere minutes.
