Food and Drink in North Korea

Food

On North Korea Tours, the meals you get are all inclusive as part of the deal, as well as the drinks alongside these meals. This makes things a lot simpler. The guides will take you to a number of different "restaurants" throughout Pyongyang and the country (there is also the hotel restaurant), where you will always be served authentic Korean food with either water or alcohol to drink, served in a traditional way. You will not be given a menu to choose from.

In a Korean meal, each item of food is given separately in a series of small metal bowls put out in front of you. This allows you to take and leave what you want (which is not rude in Korean culture). The food given often includes a bowl of rice, various bowls of spiced local vegetables, assorted meats, often some fish and some famous Korean Kimchi. Whilst metal Korean style chopsticks are given with the meal, western cutlery is provided to those who struggle to use them. 

Besides the set meals as part of the itinerary. There are optional restaurants of different themes, with menus to choose from, available in the Yanggakdo international hotel, which are not included as part of the price. These restaurants also provide a wide range of deserts, ice creams and various alcoholic drinks. 

Drink 

North Korean brand beer

North Korea is a great place for the "social drinker", it offers a wide range of its own brand beers, wines and spirits available at incredibly cheap prices compared to other parts of the world. At night after the tour is finished for the day, there are a number of bars around the Yanggakdo hotel to socialize in, including several in the lobby area, one in the bowling alley and one in the revolving restaurant.

"Ponghak Beer"- A favourite amongst tourists"

Besides alcohol, there are a number of soft drinks available in shops and gift shops throughout the country. Whilst famous western drinks such as Sprite and Fanta can be found, Note however that "Coca Cola" is seldom there. Alternatively, there are "local brand" North Korean soft drinks, such as "Ryongjin Cola" although given its taste, we wouldn't recommend this. You are free to take the local drinks you buy in North Korea (alcoholic or non alcoholic) and take them home as gifts, but you may not sell them commerically.

Do not drink tap water in North Korea! As with all developing and underdeveloped countries, there are problems with sanitation. Bottled water is available for purchase at the hotel, or you can bring some in from China.

VNK News: The year of Korean Unification- Some thoughts from a South Korean

"Originally, we were one nation. But now, as we’ve lived apart for so long, it is like we are two"

There have been many polls in South Korea concerning the when and how of unification. The polls found that South Koreans in their 20s are less receptive to the idea of unification than older people. I was the one of these 20 something year old Koreans who believed that reunifying could be better in the long run and thing to consider seriously. However, as I spent my Christmas holidays at the DMZ observation deck in Paju, it changed my mind and I felt immensely different. There was a sign on the Dora station that it's not the last station from the South, but the first station toward the North. While I was reading the sign it really made me think about the fact that Korea used to be one country. On the train heading back to Seoul from Paju area, I thought about the North Korea's human rights issues and its isolation from the modern world. I want North Koreans have rights to speak their minds freely, allowed to learn about the outside world, stay healthy and to be more open to outside influences.

"the number of families separated during the Korean War is heartbreaking"

Originally, we were one nation. But now, as we’ve lived apart for so long, it is like we are two. The number of families separated during the Korean War is heartbreaking. I don’t believe the North Korean regime will last forever, when it does fall, I wish for a peaceful outcome, not another war. I believe that the unification of Korea should be first and foremost a humanitarian cause, than just a political agenda. 

Reunification is something that the young people of today will be heavily involved in. The young generation needs to shape tomorrow and take the lead for the unification movement. There is a famous saying "If a person dreams a dream then it is a dream, but if everyone dreams the same dream, then it is a reality." Like the saying, I strongly believe the unification needs participation of youth.

Kim Doyeun- Chuncheon