
A group of foreign hikers visits a monument near Mount Paektu in North Korea.
Pic:AP /Ng Han Guan

Roger Shepherd of Hike Korea walks past North Korean soldiers while leading a hike on Mount Paektu in North Korea.
Pic:AP /Ng Han Guan

The North Korean guide takes a break during a hike on Mount Paektu in North Korea.
Pic: AP/Ng Han Guan
Hoping to open up a side of North Korea rarely seen by outsiders, a New Zealander who has extensive experience climbing the mountains of North and South Korea is leading the first group of foreign tourists allowed to trek off road
and camp out under the stars on Mount Paektu, a huge volcano that straddles the border that separates China and North Korea.
It is considered one of the most beautiful natural sites in North Korea and is still active, though there haven’t been any big eruptions in recent years.
It’s revered in the North for its links to the ruling Kim family and is considered the spiritual home of the Korean revolution. Trips to the mountain are popular with North Koreans who visit with their schools, work units or other social groups on excursions that are part indoctrination and part recreation. It’s also popular with Chinese tourists and smaller foreign tour groups who can stay in nearby hotels and drive right up to its crater to see the blue waters of Lake Chon in Paektu’s caldera.