Michael Spavor likes a challenge. Since his first visit in 2001, his company, Paektu Cultural Exchange, has spent much of its time organising and supervising countless cultural exchange programs into the North Korea. He’s even met Kim Jong Un - one of the only Westerners to have done so - and his connections reach into the higher echelons of North Korean power politics. In short, if you want to get something done in the DPRK, call him up and he’ll see what he can do.
But as far as these kinds of projects go, putting together a hockey tournament during an international incident on the Korean peninsula is up there with the most tricky.
Michael Spavor likes a challenge. Since his first visit in 2001, his company, Paektu Cultural Exchange, has spent much of its time organising and supervising countless cultural exchange programs into the North Korea. He’s even met Kim Jong Un - one of the only Westerners to have done so - and his connections reach into the higher echelons of North Korean power politics. In short, if you want to get something done in the DPRK, call him up and he’ll see what he can do.
But as far as these kinds of projects go, putting together a hockey tournament during an international incident on the Korean peninsula is up there with the most tricky.
Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks
-
Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations,
analysis
-
Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
-
The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in
the loop
-
Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
-
Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting,
investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe
now
All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.
SHARE
COPY LINK
X
MASTODON
