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With special Fragkiska Megaloudi, author of 'In The Land of Kim'. I am joined by Fragkiska Megaloudi who spent two years living in North Korea under the UN, an organisation with a surprising amount of freedom to roam around the country. Or, so it used to be. Fragkiska is a fascinating individual with an incredible background. We couldn't help but chat for 2 hours, so this episode will be in two parts. More from Fragkiska - The Book (In the Land of Kim: Two years in North korea) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F98D8KJ8 (paperback & kindle) Ebook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/in-the-land-of-kim/id6746357349 Website: https://fragkiskamegaloudi.com/ Substack account (in English): https://substack.com/@fragkiskamegaloudi ---- Thanks as always to my Patrons! Support me over at Patreon, it's free to join and you can choose your tiers for ad-free access! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am joined by Fragkiska Megaloudi who spent two years living in North Korea under the UN, an organisation with a surprising amount of freedom to roam around the country. Or, so it used to be. Fragkiska is a fascinating individual with an incredible background. We couldn't help but chat for 2 hours, so this episode will be in two parts. More from Fragkiska - The Book (In the Land of Kim: Two years in North korea) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F98D8KJ8 (paperback & kindle) Ebook: https://books.apple.com/us/book/in-the-land-of-kim/id6746357349 Website: https://fragkiskamegaloudi.com/ Substack account (in English): https://substack.com/@fragkiskamegaloudi ---- Thanks as always to my Patrons! Support me over at Patreon, it's free to join and you can choose your tiers for ad-free access! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I chat to North Korea film expert Nick Bonner, who's attended every PIFF since 2002, for some insider knowledge on everything from how to process works to cute anecdotes like how acting can lead to getting yourself a husband. Koryo Tours will be attending PIFF 2026 and will be posting on their Instagram and YouTube accounts. Make sure to follow along! North Korean Films produced with Nick Bonner Koryo Tours & Studio on Vimeo - Aim High in Creation / Game of Their Lives (Vimeo) / Centre Forward ("North Korea’s best football film ever made” - Simon Cockerell) Comrade Kim Goes Flying Film Review (by me! Youtube). Comrade Kim Goes Flying (Vimeo) Anecdotes Joss Stone in Pyongyang Pyongyang International Film Festival Info PIFF 2025 Bend it Like Beckham at PIFF Koryo Tours North Korea Film Productions North Korean Film Star Photography The North Korean Film Studio Yanggakdo International Cinema PIFF 2026 entries - email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just me on the show today as I get a bit passionate about a topic close to home; content creation on North Korea. As much as I have my qualms with some of the content that has come out from Rason and the Pyongyang Marathon - I don't believe it was 'influencers that closed North Korea'. One big argument I forget to mention here is.... North Korea closed after just *one* group of tourists went in. About 20-30 of them - and not even half of those influencers. Most of the content produced came out *after* it already announced it closed. Anyway, Enjoy! And leave a comment below! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna and I talk about some of the interesting content that has come out online since the marathon and what it's like to produce 'normal' or 'mundane' nuanced content on North Korea, away from the sensationalist headlines. Follow Anna Pelova's work - TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@visiteverycountry/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annapelova/ Contact me: [email protected] / @zoediscovers /@zoediscoversnk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I get together with Greg at the Beijing office for an impromptu meet-up and discuss all things behind the scenes at the Pyongyang Marathon. Links mentioned: Eastern Bhutan 2026 (with Greg) https://koryogroup.com/tours/offbeat-eastern-bhutan Bangladesh & Bhutan Combo (December 2025, with Greg & Zoe!) https://koryogroup.com/tours/koryo-bhutan-and-bangladesh-adventure International tours - Koryo Tours may not be able to do DPRK tours at the moment but they have a great list of international tours! https://koryogroup.com/international-tours Kangwon Greehouse - https://koryogroup.com/blog/new-north-korea-tour-itineraries  Info on Munsu Waterpark - https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-korea-cracks-down-on-water-park-corruption/  https://www.dailynk.com/english/n-korea-arrests-water-park-manager-for-alleged-secret-leaks-to-foreigners/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A here there and everywhere episode as I take you into Pyongyang and for a bit of the behind the scenes of the Pyongyang Marathon. Pyongyang Marathon 2026 Updates PYM 2026 Early Bird (closes 1st Sept 2025) Pyongyang Marathon Vlog Koryo Tours & Afghanistan Michael Palin in North Korea Contact me: [email protected] / @zoediscovers /@zoediscoversnk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Discover North Korea, I take you on a much-awaited AIR KORYO flight back to Pyongyang for the Pyongyang Marathon. We start in Beijing Airport and finish with some conversations with North Korean colleagues at Pyongyang Airport. The next couple of episodes will be covering my time in Pyongyang & the Pyongyang Marathon!  The Pyongyang Marathon 2026 has not yet been announced. Watch this space for more info!  Follow me on:  @zoediscovers / @zoediscoversnk Koryo Tours -  @koryotours / koryogroup.com Sign up to the newsletter for updates on the Pyongyang Marathon and North Korea tours subscribepage.io/koryo-tours Koryo Documentaries -  https://koryogroup.com/engagement/category/film Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The final episode of our Rason trip! We enjoy our last few sights on the tour as well as have a little interview with our young guide Miss Kim. Tune in next time when I TAKE YOU TO PYONGYANG. Thank you to my Patrons and to the Koryo Tours gang for your constant support. NOTE: North Korea borders are once again CLOSED indefinitely. Rason tours are now suspended. I will be posting updates on my Instagram & all other platforms. (@zoediscovers / @zoediscoversnk). 🔗 North Korea Tours - https://koryogroup.com/tours/dprk-north-korea/group 🔗 Read about my first trip here - https://koryogroup.com/blog/back-in-north-korea-the-return-to-rason 🔗 Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/zoediscovers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of this 3-part episode, I take you on a tour around Rason in North Korea. Thank you to my Patrons and to the Koryo Tours gang for your constant support. NOTE: North Korea borders are once again CLOSED indefinitely. Rason tours are now suspended. I will be posting updates on my Instagram & all other platforms. (@zoediscovers / @zoediscoversnk). 🔗 North Korea Tours - https://koryogroup.com/tours/dprk-north-korea/group 🔗 Read about my first trip here - https://koryogroup.com/blog/back-in-north-korea-the-return-to-rason 🔗 Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/zoediscovers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am so excited to finally be able to take you on a trip to North Korea. In this 3-part episode, I take you on a tour to North Korea so you can experience yourselves what a North Korea tour is like - plus some extra insights from me throughout, too! Thank you to my Patrons and to the Koryo Tours gang for your constant support. NOTE: North Korea borders are once again CLOSED indefinitely. Rason tours are now suspended. I will be posting updates on my Instagram & all other platforms. (@zoediscovers / @zoediscoversnk). 🔗 North Korea Tours - https://koryogroup.com/tours/dprk-north-korea/group 🔗 Read about my first trip here - https://koryogroup.com/blog/back-in-north-korea-the-return-to-rason 🔗 Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/zoediscovers 🔗 Listen on YouTube - https://youtu.be/4NPtU7ORW0M Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Discover North Korea I catch up with you all on what on earth has been going on, as well as giving you a bit of an inside scoop on life working in North Korea tourism. Hint: it’s been a bit crazy. Tours to Rason - https://koryogroup.com/tours/dprk-north-korea/group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

North Korea has been closed for 5+ years. And we all waited for it to open. Finally, now the day has come. Well, is coming. Rason will open on the 20th Feb and maybe Pyongyang soon after, let's hope. For now, I chat to special guest, friend, and colleague Greg who just got back from Rason in North Korea after being invited there on a special delegation. Tours start on the 20th Febuary, tours open for booking that I'm leading in March are as follows; March 1-8 (from Beijing) https://koryogroup.com/tours/koryo-rason-north-korea-budget-tour-beijing March 19-25 (from Yanji) https://koryogroup.com/tours/koryo-rason-north-korea-tour-yanji-long Want to support Greg or see more of him? Check out his Unseen Hungary Tour, a special tour to Hungary designed especially by the man himself. https://koryogroup.com/tours/unseen-hungary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I chat with Veronika who was one of the Russians to visit North Korea recently and who posted her trip on social media. She tells us all about her trip to North Korea! NOTE: The North Korean borders are NOT yet open. Some limited Russian tourist groups are currently permitted to go in only. Sign up to this newsletter or WhatsApp group for border opening updates. My biggest thanks to Veronika for spending her time for this episode, and forever jealous of your visit! Check out Veronika's page on the links below. I love the aesthetic! @nikakochetkova / https://www.instagram.com/nikakochetkova Check out my North Korea borderlands vlogs on YouTube, full series out now! -> https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8I7OHw5_cDNUZjngE6c3NNFgt5i8eF-t&si=xqc3Dyon-V6Uc5nW Can't wait any longer to see North Korea for yourself? Check out the North Korea From a Near Distance tour and get $150 USD discount with code ZoeDMZ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast is back after a non-deliberate break! A little update from me and about the podcast in the future. Next full episode coming out next week. North Korean borders are not yet open to tourism. Sign up to this newsletter or WhatsApp group for border opening updates. Can't wait any longer? Check out the North Korea From a Near Distance tour and get $150 USD discount with code ZoeDMZ! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.