- Title: Return of iconic "Mass Games" draws tourists to North Korean capital
- Date: 13th September 2018
- Summary: PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA (SEPTEMBER 9, 2018) (REUTERS) PEOPLE DANCING IN MASS GAMES NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG UN SITTING SIGN READING (English): "Solidarity, Cooperation, Good Neighbourliness, Friendship" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DANCING PEOPLE DANCING AND SINGING, SIGN READING (English): Independence, Peace, Friendship
- Embargoed: 27th September 2018 08:42
- Keywords: tourism mass games North Korea Pyongyang
- Location: PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA
- City: PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA
- Country: North Korea
- Topics: Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA0018XGK7R9
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Packed into Pyongyang's giant stadium this week thousands of tourists marveled at the return of North Korea's "Mass Games," a huge pageant that has produced some of the most iconic images of the isolated country.
Personally attended by leader Kim Jong Un, Sunday's (September 9) premiere at the stadium North Korea says can hold 150,000 featured new high-tech displays by glowing drone formations, lasers, and light projections. Thousands of dancers, gymnasts, martial artists and singers acted out scenes addressing familiar themes from North Korean propaganda.
The show, however, dropped most of the typical anti-American themes, instead focusing on Kim Jong Un's diplomatic engagement with international leaders.
"I think I wanted it for like five years, or even more, since I've seen the first Mass Games from the TV or the internet. I wanted to see that by myself, and every year I've been asking the travel agency if I could, if they are arranging them. This time, this year I got back in touch with them. And as a result, yes, (they said) they're arranging it," Tia Nousiainen said on Tuesday (September 12) atop the Juche Tower, a 560-foot (170 meter) obelisk in downtown Pyongyang.
Since a reduction in tensions over North Korea's nuclear weapons program this year, tour operators say tourism has increased.
Exact numbers are not available, but tour operators say flights and accommodation in Pyongyang booked up so fast after the Mass Games were announced that North Korean authorities put holds on some tour groups from China.
North Korea's first Mass Games in five years has provided a chance for Kim Jong Un to raise foreign currency, at a time when tourism remains one of the few remaining reliable sources of income amid tough U.N. sanctions.
Beyond the sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, North Korea is an impoverished state, where some 40 percent of the population, or more than 10 million people, need humanitarian assistance and about 20 percent of children suffer from malnutrition, according to U.N. estimates.
Under Kim's one-man rule, the country has also been accused of widespread human rights abuses, with a U.N. report last year estimating between 80,000 and 120,000 people are held in prison camps.
Joel Goh, a visitor from Singapore, said that the Mass Games made him want to see for himself the country behind so many of the headlines.
"It was amazing, there was drone shows, there was fireworks, mass performances. There was one scene which was the reunification of North Korea. I was quite moved by that actually."
Away from the stadium, the boost in tourism is also benefitting business catering to foreigners. One restaurant even prepares Western style dishes like pizzas and spaghetti to attract customers who may want a change from the local cuisine. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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