North Korean tourist ad featuring Russians frolicking on the beach is viral

An online advertisement from a North Korean travel company showing young Russians frolicking on the beach is going viral for its strange content. Korean state-owned travel company Korea International Travel Company recently launched a seemingly cheap advertisement aimed at luring tourists to the mysterious East Asian country. The video shows young Russians enjoying sunny days in one of the most isolated countries in the world.

After the video was shared on Reddit's r/northkorea thread, it sparked hundreds of comments highlighting its eerie qualities. The film was reportedly shot at Majeon Beach in South Hamgyong Province, North Korea.

The ad begins with a young, blonde Russian woman pulling back the curtains of her hotel room to reveal a sun-drenched beach. After some exercise and a walk on the beach, she joins a group of fellow Russians for a day at the beach.

The group is shown swimming, riding jet skis, running awkwardly and playing beach volleyball. Two fit tourists conduct an interview in Russian on the beach, but their voices are almost drowned out by the sound of the waves.

Russians advertise North Korean beach in bikinis
byu/KJU_3002 in North Korea

Many Reddit users expressed disbelief that a North Korean tourism agency would promote women in bikinis, an act that is illegal in the country. Others noted the disturbing emptiness of the footage, with no people visible in the background in most clips. One user quipped: “So many happy locals,” while another remarked: “It's incredible how a North Korean beach looks just like a North Korean street – empty.”

Some speculated that the beach resort could be strictly for tourists, which may explain the defiance of the bikini ban. Others criticized the commercial's production quality, given the totalitarian regime's leader's wealth, suggesting it was poorly filmed and edited.

The video appears to have been shot with a poor quality camera and lacks microphones or advanced editing techniques. Many viewers found the strange atmosphere of the place amusing, with one commenter writing: “If I went here I would 1000% disappear.”

Despite the strange appeal of the ad, viewers may be wondering why the North Korean tourism agency is specifically targeting Russians.

The two countries have worked to strengthen their ties in recent years.

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