North Korea in winter is mind-nominally cold, as cold as my home state of Minnesota.

In Pyongyang, I used to wear seven layers of clothing, even to bed.

But I was one of the lucky ones, at least I had a few small generator-powered heaters.

Most North Koreans don't have any heat at all, or even hats, gloves, or winter boots.

But the harsh winters haven't stopped western travel companies from advertising new-years

trips to Pyongyang.

Before the pandemic, tourism was a decent source of income for the regime, and the new year

is a particularly festive time in North Korea.

North Koreans don't get that much chance to celebrate, and this time of year, the capital

is gussied up with lights and banners and even a few snowmen.

It's late December 2015, and a tour group has just landed at Pyongyang.

Traveling with a company that advertises trips to destinations your mother would rather

you stay away from.

And if your mom's anything like mine, North Korea would certainly be on that list.

These adventure travelers are Canadian, Australian, British, and American.

They wrap up warmly and head out to make the most of their tour with government-mindeders

and a strict itinerary of sights to see.

First, they're taken to pay their respects at the giant bronze statues of the late leaders,

Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

The group goes on to sample North Korea's famous beer, produced in a brewery that was shipped

part by part from England and reassembled in Pyongyang.

They get into an impromptu snowball fight with North Korean children, and then they

...