Mt. Kumgang area is a specially designated tourist zone, so it's a lot easier to visit there than anywhere else in North Korea. It's also the only place directly accessible from South Korea. If you want to visit any other places (Pyoungyang, BaekDusan, etc..), you have to go to Beijing and then enter from NK's northern border. The application process is a pain in the ass from what I've heard, especially for US citizens, and it is also very expensive. I think packages start at around $8K USD or something. Kumgang area is a lot simpler. To register for that, all I had to do was fill out a form and send it to the tour company along with a scanned image of my passport and a color headshot photo, all done via e-mail, and of course the tour fee by bank transfer. December is the cheapest month to go, so it will only cost about $320 USD each for a 3 day trip.
Wow, I just reread that whole thing I forgot how interesting it was - he posted a video from the Arirang Festival on YouTube... <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hIpvm57eWfA&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hIpvm57eWfA&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> The first minute is a silly intro then it starts up -- 100,000 + people in one performance -- kind of creepy really.
a once in a lifetime opportunity, I want to go to N. Korea sometime in my life, just to see what life is like, fascinating.
whatever you do dude, dont make international ph calls will you.... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=138458
