Viral North Korean Tourism Ad Featuring Russians on Beach Sparks Online Debate

Viral News: A viral North Korean tourism ad has caught the internet’s attention, featuring young Russians enjoying a beach day at Majeon beach, South Hamgyong Province. 

Released by the state-owned Korea International Travel Company, the video is part of North Korea's efforts to attract tourists as it plans to reopen its borders by year-end.

The ad opens with a blonde Russian woman pulling back her hotel room curtains to reveal a sun-soaked beach. She and a group of fellow Russians are then seen swimming, jet skiing, and playing beach volleyball, an unusual sight, considering bikinis are illegal in North Korea.

The video quickly garnered attention on Reddit, with users pointing out the eerie emptiness of the beach and questioning the authenticity of the scene.

 One user remarked, “It’s amazing how a North Korean beach looks just like their roads, completely empty."

 Another wondered, “Aren't bikinis banned in the DPRK? Unless the rule is only for locals.”

The bizarre nature of the ad sparked plenty of speculation, with some questioning whether such scenes accurately represent tourist life in North Korea. One commenter humorously stated, “If I go there, I’d disappear 1000%.”