lucy24 - 12:31 am on Jan 11, 2013 (gmt 0)

It's described as a 'private visit.' How odd is that?

Is the man known to have a masochistic streak? The horse's mouth [travel.state.gov] tells us among other things that

There is no North Korean embassy in the United States. U.S. citizens and residents planning travel to North Korea may obtain DPRK visas only at the DPRK Embassy in Beijing, China, which will issue visas upon authorization from the DPRK Foreign Ministry in Pyongyang.

...

If you wish to ask the DPRK whether your application for a visa would be approved, you can address your inquiry to the Permanent Representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations in New York.

...

Foreign visitors to North Korea may be arrested, detained, or expelled for activities that would not be considered criminal outside the DPRK, including involvement in unsanctioned religious and political activities, engaging in unauthorized travel, or interaction with the local population.

...

North Korean authorities may seize documents, literature, audio and videotapes, computer equipment, compact discs

and-- OK, this is the last one--

If you require emergency services, you should inform your North Korean escorts and then inform the Swedish Embassy.

He doesn't have a Swedish connection does he? The implication seems to be that nobody is on speaking terms with North Korea, but Sweden is allowed to respond if someone screams "Hellllpp!"

On the whole, I'd rather go to Philadelphia.