North Korea Has an International Summer Camp...No, Really
Ah, summer camp. For some of us, the words bring back happy memories of woodland adventures and singing songs around the campfire. For others, it recalls crowded bunks and poison ivy. Regardless, for many people summer camp is an integral part of the coming-of-age process. And for those that want to add an international flair to their experience, now there’s a new summer camp in North Korea.
North Korea, land of unicorn bones and enemy of James Franco and Seth Rogen, has opened up an international summer camp. Thanks to a dramatic facelift and some intervention by leader Kim Jong Un, Songdowon International Children’s Camp has reopened its doors to children from around the world. And young tourists from Russia, Tanzania, China, Vietnam, and Ireland have opted for a summer vacation in North Korea.
What exactly is summer camp in North Korea like? According to reports, the roughly 300 children and teenagers spend eight days boating, swimming, and exploring the North Korean culture (closely overseen by the government, which heavily subsidizes the camp). The camp even boasts a private beach, water slides, and a volleyball court. And the rooms are said to include video games and air conditioning — luxuries not afforded to most citizens of North Korea. The cost of this once-in-a-lifetime experience? A mere $270.
The summer camp was originally built in the 1960s to encourage international diplomacy between countries, in particularly those with Communist sympathies. It appears Kim Jong Un is determined to revive this legacy. Officials have even stated that children from the United States would be welcomed to the camp with open arms, despite the currently tense political situation between the two nations. Despite North Korea's extreme isolation, the country magnanimously allowed the Associated Press to take photos of the opulent camp — complete with giant statues of former leaders Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung watching over the campers.
The photos of international campers enjoying a vacation filled with comfort and luxury is in direct contrast to the rest of North Korea. Millions of citizens throughout the country suffer from extreme poverty and malnourishment, struggling on a daily basis just to survive. And despite entreaties from the international community to come to the aid of a struggling population, North Korean officials have opted to spend government funds on other programs — like a ski resort...and a summer camps for international children.
This public relations move has the potential to backfire spectacularly for leader Kim Jong Un, who has already been lambasted by the world community for his country’s extreme human rights’ violations. Choosing to disregard the increasingly dire situation of his citizens in favor of charming foreign children is a baffling decision. At the same time, North Korea has been a supremely cloistered and secretive country for decades and this summer camp grants a rare glimpse into a world few outsiders have had the chance to explore.
And who knows? Maybe some of the friendships formed at this camp will lead to improved relations between North Korean and the rest of the world. After all, summer camp can be life changing when it’s just across the state. Imagine the possibilities of one that crosses international disputes.
[Pic via screenshot from YouTube]
