The 'Monty Python' star says it's 'enormously exciting' to have been able to get some sense of everyday life in the isolated country.
- May 22, 2018
AceShowbiz - Michael Palin has been filming a new TV documentary series in North Korea.
The Monty Python star, who has made his name as a travel expert in recent years, explored the isolated communist country for British broadcaster Channel 5, and was granted "unprecedented access" to film there after two years of negotiations.
Few people from the West have ever been to North Korea, but controversial leader Kim Jong-un appears to be keen to thaw frosty relations with the rest of the world following a bitter war of words with U.S. leader President Donald Trump.
Speaking about the documentary, Michael, 75, says, "To visit North Korea was an opportunity I couldn't turn down. For somewhere that is so often in the forefront of the news, it remains a complete mystery to most of us. That we were able to travel across the country and get some sense of everyday life was enormously exciting".
He described his visit to North Korea as an "eye-opener" and added, "In all my travels around the world I have never had the same sense of fascination and revelation as on this journey to North Korea".
The country has been largely isolated from the outside world since 1953 when hostilities between North Korea and its U.S.-backed southern neighbour were suspended - although a state of war still exists between the two countries.
A meeting between Kim Jong-Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In generated front page headlines across the globe last month - as Kim became the first North Korean leader to travel south of the border since the Korean War.
Michael Palin's documentary will air later this year.
