North Korea - Faces of an Alienated Country

North Korea isolated from the rest of the world ruled by a dictator a country whose people suffer from International sanctions because their ruler instills Terror in the world we are traveling through the world's most secretive country our first morning in the capital of Kim jong-un's Empire about 3 million people live on the banks of the tong River it is a priv to live in pongyang the government controls who gets to move here and who doesn't we encountered the so-called motivational brigades cheering up the capital's workers on their morning commute we leave for our first Excursion into Korean everyday life immediate medely we learn that impromptu interviews are not allowed it's not just that we are not allowed to talk to anyone it is not permitted for North Koreans to come in contact with foreigners volleyball is the most popular recreational sport in the country our guides tell us tennis is another Trend they say finally they do permit us to talk to a player we ask him why the sport is important to him our people have to become fit to be able to defend ourselves against the Americans together we will defeat the enemies that is our People's First duty but is he really afraid that the US yeah we are not afraid we are prepared everywhere in the city there are huge portraits of the big leaders Kim ilung and his son Kim Jong Il the father of the Kim Clan's youngest dictator Kim [Music] Jong-un the Arch of Triumph is dedicated to Kim jong-un's grandfather the Eternal president we are welcomed by the official tourist guide Mr Kim proudly tells us that this Arch is 5 m higher than its famous model in Paris up here you can see the text of our beloved song of Kim [Music] [Music] pongyang looks a lot like a Russian city but there is also a distinctive Chinese influence whatever the Kim family's youngest Offspring announces in his capital is not only law but also a promise our respected Marshall Kim un has called upon us to establish a global power in sports science and economy Sports is very popular at the moment and we aim to become even better at it our attendance lead us to another Gem of pongyang the Metro its stations are among the deepest in the world in the event of War they are supposed to provide shelter from air strikes sheltered or rather shielded is also what the population is from Independent Media the internet is banned in North Korea there is no free press the only source of information available are public newspapers which only spread propaganda the old Metro cars are from West Berlin model Dora was produced in the 1950s and 60s in 1997 they were sold to North Korea engraved into their windows are traces of the Youth of Berlin in the Metro commuters are constantly exposed to propaganda as well we're allowed to travel with them for one stop at y wng station we are told to get off again we're visiting the kindergarten kyong [Music] sang it is a privilege to be allowed to live in Pyongyang and it is an even greater privilege for your kids to attend an institution like this after all it's the future Elite of the country that is educated here [Music] we teach Sports because it strengthens the body and makes it healthy and resistant this is how these children will continue to make our country flourish in the [Music] future the little ones are taken care of from 8:00 a. m. until 5:00 p.

m. today they're drying snowmen stock still and disciplined nobody is disruptive [Music] suddenly there's a black out everybody remains surprisingly calm as this happens [Music] frequently 5-year-old Kam Kongs is the star of the kyongsang kindergarten Prelude in D Minor by Johan Sebastian Bach allegedly she has only had classes for one year those who have talent are being nurtured and shown [Music] off another highlight the kindergarten Orchestra is giving a special performance in 3/4 time in our honor the residents of pongyang are doing splendidly that is what they want to show us leisure activities keep them in good spirits as Kim Jong Il the current dictator's father had already realized bowling alleys ice rinks indoor pools all this is topped by the biggest water park in North Korea the munu water park workers from all over the country are being brought to Pyongyang to gaze in amazement at the achievements of the regime the intended message is what you see here everybody can have in the future if you work hard enough you will be doing just as well as the people in the capital a pipeline supplies the water park with seawat even though it is 25 mil from the [Music] coast as always our attendant try to keep a distance between the visitors and us [Music] after some discussion Mrham chooses an interview partner for us I'm from the country and I'm visiting the capital with my delegation after many other stops we have come to this water park today I can sense the love of our respected Marshall Kim Jong-un here solely for our pleasure he has built this water park it moves me so much I can hardly put it into words praise that seems rehearsed for the leader and his love for the people that manifests itself in everything we are shown the restaurant the cafe and the hair salon these are our beautiful haircuts the Korean ladies can choose from at the salon we only use the best equipment because our respected Marshall wants our women and men to get nothing but the best 18 haircuts for women 10 haircuts for men if you wear one of these you show your loyalty to the regime externally too the regime of a dynasty that has created its own world with its own chronology even in 1997 the regime introduced a new calendar that starts with the birth of Kim ilung the country's founder thus in North Korea the year 2018 would be year 107 The Brave New World of pongyang even houses a riding club as far as no bless is concerned it Rivals Western premium Stables again we encounter groups of visitors from the countryside having come here to have a look and to Marvel based on our observation those who look on are common people while those on Horseback seem to be members of a higher social class this is the first and only Riding Club in our country but we are planning many more in other cities the horses are hanoverians from Germany and quarter horses from England how these noble animals came here despite the Embargo remains a mystery our respected Marshall has opened this Riding Club to provide each and every Korean with the possibility to ride the population of North Korea is estimated at around 25 million it is highly unlikely that all of them will ever get to ride this is probably more about keeping the idea of the ideal country alive in people's heads so she's he's on a visit by the love okay he's not from kyang he's from the uh Countryside which is the pan County in uh North H Province Miriam Riding Club is beyond his reach only the country's Elite ride here through dark pongyang we head back to the hotel we keep seeing uniforms with 1.