Palin tells of his trip to North Korea – ‘an opportunity I could not refuse’

IT IS the world’s most secretive nation, so for any traveller it is a destination that will invoke intrigue and trepidation in equal measure.

And seasoned globe-trotter Michael Palin has claimed his recent trip to North Korea created the greatest sense of fascination for him when compared to all of his extensive travels.

The presenter has recently returned from filming a new documentary series in the country for Channel 5.

Following two years of extensive negotiations and planning, Sheffield-born Palin, 75, and his film crew were granted access to showcase the everyday lives of people in the secretive country.

The former Monty Python comedian was in North Korea when the historic meeting between its leader Kim Jong-Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In took place at the military demarcation line between the two countries in April.

He has journeyed across continents, deserts, oceans and mountain ranges for his many TV travel shows, the last of which saw him trek across Brazil in 2012. However, he said his trip to North Korea was the most revealing experience he has undertaken yet.

Palin said: “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.

“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.”