By Stacey Riordan

When I lived in South Korea for a year teaching English, I came across the opportunity to visit North Korea for a few days during the middle of winter. A trip into one of the least visited and known about countries in the world? Yes please.

North Korea is a socialist republic of roughly 23 million and is one of the most secretive countries in the world. Barely anything is known about the real lives of its citizens, only what has been recounted by defectors and outsiders who have managed to make it into, and out of, the country. One result of its seclusive nature is one of the most homogenous populations in the world.

I was preparing for my visit amid heated discussions between George Bush and Kim Jong-Il, meaning my city in South Korea, 14km from the border of North Korea, was on constant alert, with people buying up water and noodles, helicopters continuously circling in the sky, and planned events, such as fireworks displays and soccer matches being cancelled because they would provide perfect cover for the North to invade. My city area was the first line of defence, thus we would be the first to go if anything did happen.

Needless to say, I was a little apprehensive about going. Everyone I talked to asked why I wanted to go to North Korea, and I didn