Primorye Governor Oleg Kozhemyako promised to meet with Kim Jong-un during his visit about sending children on a health vacation to North Korea. Yuri Frolov, who visited the international children’s camp Sondovon twice in 2015-2016, told socialbites.ca that it is a modern camp with its own facilities, reminiscent of the Soviet camp with songs about leaders and a morning program.
“Overall, it is an ordinary camp, but quite modern – it has its own small amusement park, water park, stadium and indoor pavilions with games. The camp itself is located on the seashore, sometimes we went swimming and sunbathing. Competitions were constantly held: swimming, orienteering, sculpting sand figures, running, etc. In general, it was truly a Soviet camp, with songs about the morning squad and great leaders. Among the minuses I will note food, the complete absence of the Internet, the strictest regulation of everything and everyone, as well as the infusion of propaganda. A normal option if you come from the Far East – close and cheap, but also has its drawbacks. “I know guys who are very pleased and go there every year,” he said.
According to Frolov, the recreation program in the camp consisted of four excursion days and ten days in the complex itself. He stated that most of the time in Seongdowon was very boring, that children washed the leaders’ statues and sang Korean songs at events.
“On excursions, among other things, we were taken to Kim Il Sung’s house, they told us why it was so great, etc. In the morning we washed the statues of the leaders at the camp (1 time is mandatory, the other 9 times are at your discretion). So, we just took brooms and went to clean the monument of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. We also sang songs praising leaders (including Kim Jong-un) at cultural events. We were given sheets of paper with Korean song lyrics written in Russian transliteration. And many more small points. “It was normal, but 80% of the time it was very boring,” he explained.
Frolov also described his trips as an opportunity to see the most closed country in the world. According to him, the children perceived the camping trip in North Korea as just another vacation in a children’s camp.
“Overall I would say it is an opportunity to see the most closed country in the world, so it is definitely worth it. It all depends on the guys. Mostly young children went there, they did not care about North Korea at all, they perceived it as a trip to Bulgaria. I would send [туда своих детей]”Since it is safe and cheap, there should be no problems in principle,” he concluded.
North Korean President Kim Jong-un came to Russia for the first time in four years on his famous armored train on September 12.
On September 13, meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took place at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. It was held both in person and with the participation of delegations from both countries. After the talks, which lasted about five hours, the politicians ate Kamchatka crab dumplings and toasted each other.
Previously, Putin gifted spacesuit gloves to Kim Jong-un and promised to come to North Korea.