DPRK: The Land Of Whispers (North Korea Travel Documentary) (2013) // *CUT VERSION - see comments!* 

*** You're watching a heavily CUT UP version of the film with almost the entire soundtrack removed. Links to COMPLETE FILM below! *** Due to changing YT terms over the years as well as constant false-flagging of the film by parties who'd like to see it taken down, these cuts have been forced onto me in order to keep the film online. I appreciate your understanding. You can still watch the COMPLETE, UNCUT version of the film on Amazon (free with prime in many regions) and soon via my web site. Links below! US: www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B071X5M2H8/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r DE/AT: www.amazon.de/gp/video/detail/B085RBSH43/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r UK: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B071GMHC8N/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r JP: www.amazon.co.jp/gp/video/detail/B0852665MJ/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r Other Regions: COMING SOON at etheriumsky.com/projects/dprk-land-of-whispers/

I wonder why so many people including myself are addicted to watching North Korea videos.

I am worried about jim.

This was probably the most humanizing documentary of North Korea. I respect your work for showing the people are not their government and that their curiosity and potential is just like any other Terran on Earth. Great work, sir.

I feel horrible for that Korean man who missed his train

The little boy playing the guitar at 30:51 gives me a major dose of the creeps....

Man you got a gift for this documentary stuff. I clicked on the vid wanting to skim over the highlights of your trip and instead I watched it from beginning to end without any skipping

"Well, it was nice knowing you Jim": Kim, other 'tour guide' and Jim's assassin.

Legend has it that Jim was allowed to take the mp3 player with him to the hard labor camp, but he had no way to recharge it when he got there.

The notes on the MP3 player are the cutest thing ever. I wish the best for DPRK's people.

Damn this looks like something Vice would make... But this is better.

Almost 5 years have passed, and I still find myself coming back a re-watching this documentary. Not only am I fascinated with the DPRK, but the quality of this short movie is just so outstanding that I cannot get enough of it. Incredible work, do keep it up buddy!

You should retitle this 'How I got Jim and Mo killed'

You probably got your tour guides killed or imprisoned. Scary scary stuff

why are you film-makers always pushing guides into troublesome and uncomfortable situations? your stupidity always brings people into trouble

Dude the reason why he's cocky about your filming is because his life depends on it. You really need to respect their rules, don't be ignorant.

gotta be honest that broke my heart to see that woman playing that tablet. she was so excited and just for a moment forgot how horrible her life really was

Seeing Jim's message on your phone made me tear up. You did the right thing by going there. You planted seeds of understanding both in Korea and here. It was powerful to see the North Koreans as individuals.

I really hope Jim is alive and well.

I'm ordinary person in south korea. not having any of interest to north but I'm quite shocked by their livings in all of the propagandas. here is the propaganda signs and songs I can understand. sorry about grammas, I'm not good at english. 07:26 '선군조선의 태양 김정은 동지 만세' 'all hail to the Kim Jung Un!, great leader of Chosun, like the sun' . Chosun is another name of north korea. 07:53 '위대한 령도자 김정은 동지 만세!' ' all hail to the great leader Kim Jung Un!'. but picture aside of the sign is Kim Il Sung. 08:15 '조선은 결심하면 한다!' 'Chosun make things happen what we decided.' 10:19 left paper said "new Kim Il Sung, Kim Jung Il statues sit at the department of defence". 10:19 right paper said "only strong millitary can keep the country prosper" "our party loves children". interesting. do not fold the newspaper. I didn't know that until today. 10:55 distance building's sign '로동신문'. north korea's major news paper name. run by the government. 11:51 TV subtitle. '"동무여 청춘을 조국에 바치자" "my comrade, give up our youth for the country". looks like karaoke's millitary propaganda song. 13:43 14:19 "혁명의 성산 백두산, 김정일". "holy mountain Paektu, starting point of revolution, Kim Jung Il. written in 1992/2/16". mountain Paektu also specially treated in south korea. 17:21 "어데가나 잊지 못할 전우들이여" "my comrade, I will never forget you". karaoke propaganda. 18:17 at 12 o'clock, clockwise, "자주 평화 welcome 친선" "self-indefendence peace welcome friendly" 20:33 north korea folk song. a pretty girl go out for water and meet people, they wanna girl to sing, she sing a song with shy. can't find any propaganda. 21:26 '위대한 령도자 김정은 동지의 선군혁명령도를 충성으로 받들자' 'serve revolution order given by great leader Kim Jung Un' 22:05 '위대한 령도자 김정은 동지 만세!" "all hail to the great leader Kim Jung Un!" 22:26 '경애하는 김정은 동지를 따라 백두의 행군길을 꿋꿋이 이어가자' 'follow the beloved leader Kim Jung Un, passing through the Paektu marching road". means follow their country's spirit but I don't know how to explain it in english. 22:32 "선군조선의 태양 김정은 장군 만세!" "all hail to the general Kim Jung Un, the sun of the millitary based country, Chosun". 23:04 "위대한 어버이 김일성 동지는 ?????" "great father of all people, Kim Il Sung is ????" 25:31 north korea folk song. means goodbye but hope that we will see you again soon. 29:53 can't understand lyrics but one thing is sure, that's not a child song. they sing a Kim Jung Il as their parent. 31:50 song that three kid sing means I love my father and mother more than anything in the world. very common child song also known in south korea. but looks like their father, mother means 'dear leader'. 33:40 I can't hear his lyric. I never heard such rythm, maybe only known song in north korea or very very old song. 39:00 Arirang melody. koreans first folk song. all korean knows this song. no propaganda, no political message. 40:20 north korea propaganda song. praise their country, party, Juche sasang, leader. 43:26 signstone '강성대국' tells 'most powerful country in the world". 43:57 '선군정치' 'millitary and party are first'. weird. all signstons tell propaganda not a single village name shown. 44:30 no. south korean think seven is lucky number. three? not much like seven. I thought three is propaganda thing, connected to Kim's family. 44:45 I sing, I dance, I smile... cute child song. I never heard that song but everyday I heard similar melody when I'm their age. 52:01 '우리 당과 인민의 최고 령도자 김정은 동지 만세' 'all hail to Kim Jung Eun, the leader of our party, our people' 52:01 '일심단결을 더욱 강화하자' 'all people, all together' 52:01 '위대한 장군님의 선군사상을 빛나게 실현하지!' 'great leader's millitary first idea, we can make it happen!'. '결사옹위' 'to keep the country and leader, we can anything pay for it' 57:30 propaganda song. praise their party. equal their party like a flower, beatiful scenery. about Juche Sasang, I heard that it is their constitution also their religion and everything. rumor has it, woman must choose their hair style in menu shown in 35:42. not allowed any others. menu is controlled by government. mens are worse, less than ten styles, only short hair cut allowed. pity all tourist, all children, all customers in barber shop, all people in bowling alley and all people in this picture. maybe they are farmers, workers or someone never be allowed standing there couple of hours ago. thank you. thank you very much for generosity that you and your firends showing to kids. thank you. all of the people in north korea starving, 5 years ago, secretly filmed real life in north shook the south korea. keyword 북한 꽃제비(beggar, especialy orphant kid). kid playing the guitar remind that.

those kids playing the musical instruments are creepy .

46:20 that dude mr.Moe became nice and friendly with you just because he accept the sad fact he'll get killed after the tour because of your behavior. mr. Moe simply share with you his last meal and beer in the last day of his miserable life. Did you enjoy the man's last meal ?

RIP Jim. Good luck in the work camp.

I love your choice of music in this.

Great documentary, Christian! You had me even more at the mention of Rammstein on your MP3 player. ;)

This is by far the most honest documentary on North Korea that I've seen, very far away from prejudice I think. Not to take away any of the horror brought about by such a regime, but thank you for trying to understand them as a people and to try and "explain them" to us. I loved your time-lapse sequences and the music, it all had a very late-Cold War feeling to it. I will certainly make a small donation to you for the awesome job. :)

i dont know about you guys, i think north korea ladies are kinda cute

This was by far the best documentary I've seen on DPRK. You focused on the people more than most others, it felt like I was getting to know what the people are like rather than how they are portrayed as sheep in other films. And I must say the art on the MP3 player was quite touching. I hope one day that the country becomes more open and prosperous, and would love to visit when that time comes.

Just found your video and though it did show the DPRK like many videos of the same subject matter, however yours did reflect something positive and your correspondent planted more seeds in DPRK's garden. Thank you for producing this video and posting it.❤

I wonder what had happened to Jim ( the tour guide mentioned in the film) . Perhaps he was punished ( execution, imprison, sent to labor camp ... etc ). I find exposing the reality with the cost of a tour guide's life disturbing.

Anyone else finds it strange that you don't see any pets around? I suppose it has to do with being unable to buy any kind of thing and the food rationing. Also, no people with disabilities or plain different. I wonder what do they do with children that aren't born "perfect". And by the way, those children performing at the school gave me the creeps a bit. Fantastic documentary.

This doc is just the best keep it up

Isn't he putting the tour guide in danger by disclosing that he didn't answer when he asked if he really believed in it? ( around 17:00 )

I think the most important thing to remember is that as awful and evil as their leaders are, the people of North Korea are normal average people just like anyone else and deserve compassion and respect, just like anyone else.

do you know if Jim is still alive? or if he is, under what conditions? and the rest of the "tour guides"? are they protected? I wonder...

This is certainly one of the best the best materials that is to be found on RU-vid about North Korea. I especially liked how you illustrated the relationship with the tour guides, which expanded through the stay, up to the finale with the music player which honestly made me think a lot. I will do my best to donate as soon as possible and I look forward to your piece from Vietnam. P.S. I just hope the tour guides are okay.

Great job man! I really enjoyed your objective documentary style reporting! Keep up the good work! Regards from Sweden.

I have recently read several books on North Korea and viewed many utube films. I find the whole concept of North Korea utterly fascinating but I must say that your film is by far the best of all. You are an excellent film maker and your edit was far superior than that of BBC, RT corporations who obviously operate on vast budgets and for that you should in all sincereity be proud!

R.I.P Jim

I’m just glad you returned safe and sound, man...

Wow, what a facinating video! Outstanding job!

Dudes! This was the best DPRK documentary I've ever seen. Everyone who made this is incredible.

Amazing documentary! This evoked so much deep thought and emotion, it certainly rivals any documentary put on by Nat Geo or Discovery! Very well done! Where can we donate?

Great documentary! Very good and candid style. Also excellent narration! Good luck with ur careers!

"I tried to imagine myself in his situation and I tried to understand" - do you really understand? if you do, you definitely not talking about political issue to your guide 😀

@Fronika- (yt won't let me reply to you directly! annyoing). I would love to and have been thinking much about visiting and filming in Israel/Palestine. In fact, i met with the director of the Palestinian film '5 broken Cameras' last week (look it up, he tells a pretty impressive story, he was nominated for an Oscar last year) and I felt even more moved by his story, making me want to do something even more. But really it comes down to funding. It's not enough for me to just show up and shoot, the conflict there is pretty complex and in fact my knowledge of it is somewhat minimal. Nonetheless, if any opportunity comes up, i would certainly love to visit, to film, to get to know the people and stories there firsthand.

It was really heart touching. I have seen more than dozen documentaries on North korea. I felt that I was travelling in DPRK.

I remember watching this documentary back in 2013 and couldn't think of the name of it. After searching for nearly an hour I found it. WHY IS THIS NOT HIGHER UP IN THE SEARCH RESULTS ON RU-vid. Anyway, absolutely love everything about this documentary. You guys are fucking awesome!

Fantastic Documentary with a organised approach towards formulating a video - Introduction at start, Explanation during the midst and a fantastic Conclusion. Keep Up Good Work !!

I hope u will not get those tour guides in trouble

Chrystian, thanks for making this wonderful documentary. I've watched just about every on about DPRK that I can find, and yours was the most open-minded and humanist approach to the subject. I really got more of a sense of the people than from any other film I've seen, and to me that is the most important thing. Thanks for this!

Very good video. Perfect filters , angles plenty of info thanks

Deeply engaging and interesting. The way you narrated and the resources used was great. Excelent job.

I hope north Korea opens up. I wish they prosper and become as good as any country. Their isolation should end. They should be free.

Easily my favorite documentary about North Korea.

Awesome Docu,till Date the Best i have seen👍👍👍Great Stuff!!!

Excellent! Great video quality and content. Vivid pictures as well. Be glad that you got to fly from place to place in DPRK. Older videos showed that people traveling to the places that you visited took really long van/bus trips.

Shame it's so isolated and controlled. It looks like a very beautiful country. I'd love to visit it some day.

Your documentary was very good, kudos for that. BUT... As several others have pointed out - your naïve approach might very well have gotten your tourguides sent to prison camps (usually for the rest of their life when the issue has to do with "National security") or in the worst case, even executed. I understand that your intentions were good, but you really should have thought a bit about it before you pushed the boundaries so far. What is nothing in a country that's free, in North Korea might mean death or life long imprisonment. You should have gathered more information on the country you were about to visit - then you would have gotten strict warnings about endangering your guides, since it's a known fact that many have gotten in very serious trouble due to not "being able to control the western visitors". Many guides, I'm sure, try to be accommodating to the extent they can, but that shouldn't be revealed by the person filming/taking photos. You should have protected them and not mentioned anything about what they let you do and not. You made matters even worse by actually showing them - on camera - western stuff like RU-vid, and you even told outright that you lended your mp3 to the guy. You do know that it's strictly forbidden, by law, for North Koreans to watch/listen to any kind of foreign media? It's a crime mashed up in the huge mess of things that are considered treason. And the final blow was when you said that he liked the music and that you hoped he'd gotten some new insights and ideas. I understand your intention of trying to open doors and unite people over boundaries, to exchange knowledge, culture etc. - but you also have to understand that North Korea is nothing like any other country. (Or, at least most.) It's perfectly fine that you had these talks and showed your stuff - but you should NOT have included that in the doc. I hope the guides are fine and that they have only gotten reprimanded and scolded - but I seriously doubt it.

this is the best dprk docu i've ever seen (and i've seen a lot) thank you for showing that the tour guides are just people as well

Why can't we all be together? These people are no different than me or you. The bowling alley scene where Moe missed all the pins,when he was walking back he had a hint of laughter/embarassement. I've seen that exact look from my friends while bowling. The montage starting @51:30 was incredibly moving, being able to see that these are regular people, trying to survive like everyone else. We are all one, separated by grudges and ignorance. We live in fear of each other, but do we know why?

I loved the documentary until the end (5min). (sorry gunna rag) When he started making his final culminating speech it was insanely positive considering the state of their nation. People are being tortured, murdered, kidnapped in prison camps, the people are dying of starvation, NK citizens blame all their problems on the west. In north Korea their is a great damm that had been built by the great leader and it broke and nearly flooded every single producing farm leading to their mass starvation. But will blame west. The capitalism quote threw me for a loop "there is no capitalism" he said this so positivity like it was good. So I am really confused to why...getting rations not being able to do what you want..seems to be displayed in a positive light... In NK the only want it for war so they may "die together." - said in the testimonials of many NK defectors. Also I am not sure what the director believes in when he shows the video of the englishman on the news. He seems to also play a blame game on western countries and SK and JAP. When the regime and the great leaders are truly to blame for the aggression of the NK. I'm am responding poorly to a well made and i think rather brave young directors documentary right now I know. Korea can not open up. That would unravel the entire regime, there is no hope for the country until their is a change in power. Rather than being depressed seeing the thousands of koreans in their art show (ari-something Sorry!) the director was amazed and impressed... Those people do not a get a day off in their life. They did all that for you... can't you see this isn't what they want to be doing...Kim Jung Il loved the arts and theatre and demanded this from his people. NK is not modern you saw the most modern parts of the country and that's it. It is a show. Not tainted by LCD screens doesnt make this country great. It is tainted by propaganda and I know the director knows this SO i can't understand why his ending reaction is so positive for the miserable, starving, persecuted people of NK. Other than that great documentary. Cinematography was spot on! you are super brave for asking all those questions. be careful though you don't wanna get anyone in trouble! You are a genuine talented dude!

Brilliant. At last a balanced documentary showing the people as both oppressed but not mind controlled drones aggressively believing everything they're spoonfed. Paints a picture of possible, slight hope for tomorrow.

EXCELLENT. Thoughtful and interesting. Really worth watching. Thanks so much!

Nice documentary! I was about to go to sleep but your video got me all hooked up.

I and my grandpa watched the video and he told me: it's the 1970s china~~~And in that time,NK is much richer than China and South Korea,but in 1990s,Nk's economy started become worse and worse and last till today. I don't know which is the real reason why NK become so poor but I wish the innocent NK friends could have the chance to be free and in someday,NK and SK,China mainland and Taiwan province can become one part !!!!!!! The most painful thing is that one family become two countries!!! Finally I have to say thanks to this handsome tuber! Thank you for your brave and this wonderful video!@Etherium Sky.

I really hope the tour guides didn't end up at any of the rehab camps. They seemed like really nice people, but the governments strict policies sadly doesn't allow them to open up much due the severe punishment for doing so. It was a really great documentary. It showed me a lot about the North Korean people and some of their culture outside of their "Great Leader". If the the number 3 really is a lucky number, then I damn hope Kim Jung-Un is the last ruler.

Top qualitiy video ... superb effects ... and very informative about North Corea ... excellent work ... thanks !!!

Well done! best coverage yet!

This is the best North Korea documentary I've seen so far and I'm pretty sure I won't see better unless you make another one. Amazing job. :D

Everywhere this guy went, there are military people carrying guns. This is like the book 1984 but with korean people as the characters

thank you for the captions

Great job on this film. Refreshing and unexpected perspective. Loved it.

This is absolutely brilliant. Excellent work.

Dude what an amazing documentary. Underrated. Seriously Etherium Sky this is literally the best DPRK documentary I've seen to date and I think I've seen most if not all of them. Did you feel choked up or get teary eyed at any point in your stay in the DPRK after witnessing the evil horrors that take place there? Did you see pain in anyone's eyes? I feel sad thinking about it, I couldn't imagine witnessing it.

This is by far the best Docu on the DPRK. Well done my man! Absolutely outstanding work.

thank you for posting your video. great to share in your vacation

Dude what a beautiful heartfelt video. Very refreshing after watching literally scores of docs on DPRK with the western bias. Keep up the great work.

so creepy, i felt that all the poeple you met, in the bowling centre, the shop lady, even children, all of them are just actor to show you something. i can feel that just by looking at their faces and expressions... they are not honest, and i clearly saw no smile at all in these local people's faces. except the cashier lady when she played angry birds. thats real honest smile. i hope all north korean could smile like her. and RIP tour guide Jim, he obviously either in the concentration camp or dead already.

great film and editing bro.. 👏🤝

Excellent job, found this from another video and I'm glad I did. Think you may have just earned yourself another subscriber sir.

You gotta give credit to this guy. This is a really well-made documentary, probably the best one about NK on RU-vid.

What a great job exposing the DPRK government while simultaneously making a love letter to the Korean people themselves. They are by far the biggest reason things have to change.

Great video man ... Subbed!

This is the first high quality video of NOrth Korea I have watched so far. Thanks for this. I hope Jim is okay. I am concerned

I don't usually ever comment on anything, but I just wanted to say I think this is one of the best informative and insightful documentaries I've ever watched on North Korea. I am rather tempted to visit the DPRK and learn more about their culture. All in all, fantastic video.

Is that movie influenced the creators of The Interview? The Train Ride, the kids playing music... I really thought about this documentary when I watched the movie!

All what i can say after watching your video is wow. You put that together so well. Keep up the good work

Amazing documentary! Thanks for making this! It's really clear, and very interesting!

Wow, great documentary, I loved it. Well done my friend!

Thanks for producing this. I'm half korean and when I see how the north lives compared to the south I get emotional. South Korea is incredible today but knowing the north is the extreme opposite makes me sad. Most people do not realize how extreme North Korea is. Total government control.

okay those kids were the cutest though

Great work, thoroughly enjoyed this documentary

It's clear that Dear Leader Kim Jong Il was a man of genius and love for the Korean people, and that Respected Marshall Kim Jong Un continues to inspire ever greater deeds of glory by the Korean people.

I was touched by the waitress that seemed to be overjoyed by playing Angry Birds on the touch pad. If her reaction was that for a mere touch pad, imagine what it would be if their "Wall" falls, and they're exposed to the technology of the rest of the world.

Thanks for getting this footage out! These stories have to be seen and heard by the world.

Great documentary. Thank you. Also music is really good.

This is WAY better than vice's version

I FIRMLY believe that your visit did MORE to cement relations between North Korea and the rest of the World...excellent VIDEO!!!!

Great video. Very well made.