Former Socceroos star Erik Paartalu has publicly shared the details of a truly terrifying and surreal journey to North Korea that he undertook back in 2017. At the time, Paartalu was playing for the Indian club Bengaluru FC, and his team was scheduled to face a Pyongyang-based side in a competitive tie.
A Chilling Welcome and Missile Tests
Paartalu described several bizarre and deeply disturbing incidents that occurred during the visit to the totalitarian nation. One of the most shocking moments came from a conversation with a hotel bellboy. The employee casually mentioned that if the players had come down to the lobby at 6 a.m., they would have witnessed a long-range missile passing directly over the hotel. This chilling revelation occurred at a time when North Korea was actively conducting missile tests, adding a layer of global tension to an already intimidating environment.
Extreme Security Measures on Arrival
The process of entering North Korea was itself an ordeal. Paartalu explained that the team had to spend a night in China first, and their flight into Pyongyang was the only one scheduled for that entire afternoon. Upon landing, security officials immediately began a rigorous inspection of all electronic devices.
"They started going through phones and tablets without even asking us to unlock them," Paartalu recalled. "I don't know what coding they were putting on there. They just knew... trying to find material or stuff we'd been sending, and of course we're in the group chat speaking about Kim Jong Un." The experience left the entire team fearful, with Paartalu admitting, "We were sh***ing ourselves, going, we're not getting in here."
Totalitarian Propaganda and Control
Once inside the country, the overwhelming presence of state propaganda was immediate and inescapable. Paartalu was struck by the incredible power and cult of personality surrounding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He witnessed citizens becoming emotionally overwhelmed upon meeting the leader, describing scenes of people crying and displaying extreme devotion.
"It was total propaganda – and it hits you straight away, and you're reminded of it everywhere you go," Paartalu said. He noted that massive posters depicting the nation's leadership lineage were ubiquitous, and every person over the age of sixteen was required to wear a pin on their shirt, either featuring the North Korean flag or an image of a ruling family member.
Football Amidst the Fear
Despite the intimidating atmosphere, Paartalu's team managed to secure a positive result on the pitch. Bengaluru FC drew their match in North Korea, having previously won the home leg 3-0, which allowed them to progress in the competition by winning the tie overall.
Paartalu, now 39 years old and working as a football commentator, reflected that arriving in North Korea is a unique experience unlike any other in the world. His career has taken him to Scotland, China, Thailand, South Korea, and Qatar, amassing 399 senior games after starting with Northern Spirit in Sydney, and he also represented Australia at under-17s level. Yet, the memories of his brief time in the secretive state remain among his most vivid and unsettling.
