Michael Palin in North Korea

I have just watched both episodes at one sitting. I thought poor Michael was looking a bit tired -maybe that hectic schedule was too much for him. It would certainly be too much for me.

The empty roads and the empty airport were seriously scary - so much money must have been spent on them, but no-one able to use them - now that was odd. But oddest were the traffic cops - what the heck was all that about?

I know little about NK's history over the long term but got the impression that oppression has been their lot and they were ripe for a "saviour."

There is no way that anyone can really get inside what lives are like there; but I do think it is important to look critically at our own culture when dipping into another. The absence of advertising hoardings for instance is worrying in terms of freedom - but how much more peaceful things would be without this in-your-face incessant commercialism.

To us it seems crazy to spend such a huge amount of GDP on weaponry when people are starving and infrastructure is so poor - but I guess that some citizens might see this as money well spent as protection from an outside threat.

What a strange country - but, as someone else has said, people are just people the world over; and we are all formed by our histories. And there are always two sides to history.

It would have been interesting to see some shops and hospitals.

You slightly gathered that from that lady's reply about the famine. I think this visit was very well choreographed by NK. What was quite telling was the fact that those two companions will probably never be allowed to visit M.P's world, sadly.

Read 'Escape from camp 14' you might realise the truth about NK.
Millions are still starving.

Same mold

Love Michael Palin anyway. All his travel programmes have been excellent. It's not about him but about them. Simon Reeve is in the same mood. Interested, compassionate and willing to learn. Well done MP

Absolutely amazing programme, and what a beautiful country NK is. I too didn't like M.P's comedy years ago, in fact I found some of it quite offensive, but his travel progs are a delight, as years later, is he!!
Found the 'ghost' airport slightly spooky though, and the lady, when asked about the famine seemed a little nervous with her reply! The lack of cars outside the city and the awful roads, told a bit of a tale and the traffic police were very regimented - a strange world, but fascinating.

Fascinating programme and I think we learnt as much from what wasn't said as we did from what was said IYSWIM.

I love the way that Michael Palin presents the programme without it becoming all about him - unlike many presenters!

I too found the programme both interesting and enlightening.

Brilliant program, I loved it. It was a fascinating peep into life in N.K. And Michael Palin was lovely, tactful yet interesting.

Wonderful program, we always watch MP's travel programs.

Such a fascinating programme. Michael Palin is so gentle and diplomatic.
I would've been very sick driving on those roads!

I enjoyed this. I was fascinated by the female traffic cops. I thought Michael's relationship with his young guides was lovely. I loved that they gave him a birthday cake

What a fabulous country,Mr Palin did himself and NK proud with this documentary.His summing up that it wasn't the sad,grim place he believed it was showed what I always believed .People are people the world over ,they were kind and friendly and helpful,not because they had to be but because they are human ,just like us .
I think the rest of us forget what NK had to deal with when America decimated them during the Korean war and that with American troops on their borders ever since they certainly didn't feel safe.Maybe time we looked at things from their side instead of the wests .Even the Army Colonel said he was a man of peace .