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North Korea: Countries
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North Korea's culture is officially protected and heavily promoted by the government. The Mass Games are government-organized events glorifying its two leaders, involving over 100,000 performers. In July 2004, the Complex of Goguryeo Tombs became the first site in the country to be included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
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North Korea can only be visited by an organized tour, but this can be a large group or a party of one. Prices start from around €1000 for a 5-day group tour including accommodation, meals and transport from Beijing, but can go up considerably if you want to travel around the country or "independently" (as your own one-person escorted group). Tour operators/travel agencies that organize their own tours to North Korea include:
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North Korea's government is extremely reclusive, and as a result few foreigners enter the country. In principle any person is allowed to travel to North Korea, and in practice almost no-one is refused entry by North Korea; ... visitors are not allowed to travel outside designated tour areas without a government minder in tow. The daunting presence of government minders and the negative international reputation of the government discourages many outsiders from visiting. Accounts of travels throughout the region can be found in the external links section.
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North Korea maintained close relations with the Soviet Union and China (military aid treaties were signed with both countries in 1961) but preserved a degree of independence; the Sino-Soviet rift facilitated this. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, China became North Korea's most important ally. The country made some strides toward its goal of self-sufficiency, but large expenditures on its military and centralized control have been drags on the economy.
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Hill said North Korea had made a "terrible mistake" in diverting nuclear energy to military use. Their nuclear programs "have helped impoverish that country," Hill said, buying "not prestige" but "isolation." Hill admitted that important question marks remain over the full extent of the country's nuclear program. "North Korea has not confirmed they have an enriched uranium program," Hill said.
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JoongAng Daily adds: "A diplomatic source in Beijing, probably recalling earlier false dawns in the tortuous process of trying to separate North Korea from its nuclear ambitions, was cautious about proclaiming a breakthrough. 'Under the current circumstances,' he said, 'the deal was the best thing [the participating countries] could hope for, but the question is what happens if for any reason it falls apart? Then the situation is back to square one. The agreement has incentives, but there is no punishment if the North fails to abide by it.'"
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