First international marathon in North Korea in six years: British YouTuber asks guide taboo questions during stay

On the 6th of this month, the Pyongyang International Marathon was held in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, for the first time in six years. Many foreign runners also participated in the event, including British YouTuber
A video of a North Korean tourist asking a guide about who would succeed Kim Jong Eun, the country's current leader, has become a hot topic since it was released.
In addition to North Korean citizen runners, foreign runners from China, the UK, Poland and other countries also participated in the event.
In North Korea, foreign tourists are usually accompanied by a guide and their movements are restricted, and this time, just like before the COVID-19 pandemic, the participants entered the country as part of a tour group.
Participants were given four rules to follow, including not leaving the group and not making any critical remarks about the Supreme Leader (Kim Jong Un).
Meanwhile, according to the Korean media, E-Daily, about 2.33 million
Harry Jaggard, a British YouTuber with a huge following on his channel, asked the guide some sensitive questions about Kim's successor.
Kim's daughter, Ju-ae, is seen as a possible successor to Kim.
The first time it was reported was in November 2022. At the time, the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the Workers' Party of North Korea, reported that the country had successfully launched the ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) "Hwasong-17."
In the article, they published a photo of a girl in a white down coat walking hand in hand with Kim in front of the "Hwasong 17." They said, "He was accompanied by his 'beloved child.'"
Since then, Jue has been frequently photographed in North Korean media, including accompanying Kim on military inspection tours, and such images are now rare.
In January last year, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said that Joo-ae was "considered to be a strong successor," and in July, it said that Joo-ae was "receiving succession training."
The National Intelligence Service reported the results of its analysis to the National Assembly. However, it did not rule out the possibility that another sibling could become the successor. Furthermore, in October last year, the National Intelligence Service said that Joo-ae's "status has been raised."
The analysis was reported to the National Assembly. It was revealed that Joo-ae was guided by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Chairman Kim, at party events and was assisted by Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.
The aforementioned Jaggard asked the guide a more in-depth question: "Is there a possibility that Kim Jong Un's daughter Kim Ju-ae could become the successor?" He did not hesitate to answer any other questions.
The moment the guide, who had been listening to the story, heard Jue's name, he looked confused and faltered, saying, "I don't really know either." Of course, such questions are considered taboo in North Korea.
Jaggard said he participated in the marathon as a member of the British Amateur Marathon Association with the aim of entering Pyongyang.
In February of this year, North Korea resumed accepting group tourists from around the world for the first time in five years since the COVID-19 outbreak, but only in Rason, a special economic zone in the northeast.
However, it was suddenly suspended after just three weeks. The exact reason is unclear, but it is said that it was influenced by a YouTuber from the West who visited North Korea and spoke about the situation there in an interview with the media after returning home.
The YouTubers commented, "I was surprised that North Koreans don't try to hide their poverty," and "I knew North Korea was a strict country, but the level of control I experienced was incredible."
It was beyond my imagination. Even when I wanted to go to the toilet, I had to inform the guide. I have never experienced anything like this anywhere else in the world."
Since the spread of COVID-19, North Korea has restricted travel from abroad, but the marathon, held for the first time in six years, has prompted foreign visitors to visit the country.
Attention is focused on whether the country will begin accepting foreign tourists on a full scale, but it is also interesting to see whether the video streamed by the British YouTuber will have any impact.