[cfcef]

> I know it because I grew up in one.

You did not grow up in North Korea. North Korea is not the USSR, and it operates differently. I laid out several ways in which it differed in explaining why being a tourist is only harmful.

> Everybody can be a tourist and do their part, though.

You know what part you can do which is even more helpful? Donate to malaria bed nets, or donate to the missionaries and other NGOs.

> And about the money — as a tourist, you'll hardly help the evil regime with more than $1000-$2000 (do you know how much a rocket costs? This is a small change).

And how 'small change' is maybe contacting a regular North Korean and maybe changing their view about something and this someday maybe having an effect?

Every dollar of hard foreign currency counts for a tiny impoverished country under sanctions. The NK economy is small and stagnant and regularly straining under the burden of the rocket & nuclear programs.

The NK regime believes that the tourism is very useful and effective, and it is not endangered in the least by the prospect of toilets with Bibles behind them, or the chance a tourist will see through 'a crack', and I agree with them.

> North Korean government is not doing it for your money.

They are absolutely doing it for the money. Just like they were doing Kaesong for the money, not to 'look good' based on some obsolete analogy to the USSR.

[atemerev]

Have you ever had an actual conversation with a live North Korean? Because I had, and I still insist on my point of view. :)