Scots 'danger tourist' sets sights on North Korea after brush with the Taliban

A Scottish “danger tourist” is planning a trip to North Korea after visiting some of the world’s most controversial destinations.

Afghanistan, Somalia and Syria are not usually top spots for travel, but these are just a few of the places visited by Callum Mills, from Coatbridge, known as Callum Abroad on YouTube.

“I’ve never stopped, I never went back to Uni and I just kept travelling. I just packed a bag, literally a backpack, and I never stopped”
Callum Mills, aka Callum Abroad

Danger tourism is when people visit countries where there is a higher element of risk, such as active war zones or political instability.

But Callum says it’s not the danger that draws him to these places.

“It’s easy to look online and see chaos and bombs going off but people forget there are ordinary people there just trying to live their lives,” he said.

“My general view on it is: go and speak to the people, have the local food and just see what’s happening on the ground. I don’t necessarily go to seek out danger.”

From nursing student to danger tourist

Manshiyat Naser, or 'Garbage City' as it it known, is one of the Egyptian capital's Western districts. — Manshiyat Naser, or ‘Garbage City’ as it it known, is one of the Egyptian capital’s Western districts. Callum Mills

Callum was in the final year of a nursing degree at the University of the West of Scotland when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

With classes cancelled he decided to pack a bag and fly to Egypt. He had learned of a place known as Garbage City.

“It’s where all the Coptic Christians live,” Callum said, “in Cairo, they go round the city and collect all the garbage before taking it back to their community to be sorted.

“That sort of gave me the bug to explore places that maybe we’re told to avoid, that you don’t see on the brochures. That gave me a little bit of a kick.”

From there he went straight to Syria.

“There’s certainly moments like that where you think things could go a little bit south here”

“Since then I’ve never stopped, I never went back to Uni and I just kept travelling. I just packed a bag, literally a backpack, and I never stopped,” he said.

In Syria, which has been in a bitter civil war for over a decade, he found were the people were “lovely” but became disappointed when his videos appeared on local news, claiming he was trying to expose corruption in the regime.

“I showed that we had to pay some bribes to some of the soldiers. I posted that because I was just showing people the reality,” he told STV, “ultimately I’m not going anywhere to make propaganda.”

Bombs and beaches

Ukraine has been at war since the Russian invasion in 2022. Callum Mills

In Afghanistan, he says he was taken for questioning by the Taliban and the Mujahideen asked him to convert to Islam.

“There’s certainly moments like that where you think things could go a little bit south here if they don’t accept this answer,” he told STV News.

Bombs dropping in the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Odesa is one such moment that sticks in Callum’s mind.

“It is scary I’m not going to lie,” he said, “and it is a bit of an adrenaline rush but, when you hear the sirens, you know that the missiles are inbound.”

“For me it’s simply I want to go and see something, as the old saying goes it’s better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times”

One of the countries he has visited the most is one that he says has been the most surprising.

“I think a lot of people in the West have a perception of Pakistan, of Islamic extremism,” he said.

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of Pakistan.

“I feel so safe walking around Islamabad on a Saturday night, the people are very friendly,” Callum said.

“I’ve ended up being invited to countless weddings.”

Another surprising place Callum found himself was sitting on a beach in Somalia.

Lido Beach in Mogadishu has been the scene of multiple fatal terrorist attacks in the past five years. Supplied

“When I was younger, growing up all you hear about is the pirates, the last place you would ever want to be is on a beach in Somalia,” he said.

“It’s times like that I think that the travel is worth it, it definitely opens your eyes to see what the world is really like.”

North Korea: The hermit kingdom

This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says rocket launchers during a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War, on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea Thursday, July 27, 2023. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service

Visiting some of these countries comes with controversy. Callum said he is expecting backlash on his planned trip to North Korea in December.

The hermit kingdom, as it is known, has been ruled by the Kim family since 1948 and has been widely condemned for human rights violations.

“For me it’s simply I want to go and see something, as the old saying goes it’s better to see something once than hear about it a thousand times,” Callum said.

“When I go to a country and speak to someone – this is what I tell people online, I’ll speak to anyone – it does not mean that I agree with them.

“But it’s good to speak to people and get their point of view.”

However, Callum admits he doubts this will be possible in North Korea due to the strict guided nature of the tours.

Callum was able to visit the ancient city of Babylon and Saddam's palace while in Iraq. — Callum was able to visit the ancient city of Babylon and Saddam’s palace while in Iraq. Supplied

The government there is notorious for making visitors follow a schedule at all times and speaking to members of the public is generally forbidden.

“You only get to see what they want you to see,” he said, “it is a shame however it is something I would like to see with my own eyes.

“In order to get an understanding of the full fabric of society, I think you need to speak to people from all walks of life, even people you don’t agree with.”

There have been several high profile cases of Western citizens being detained in some of these countries.

British man Miles Routledge, was assumed dead after being detained by the Taliban in 2023 and not heard from for eight months.

“We advise people to research their destination including reviewing our travel advice”
UK Foreign Office

In 2016, American Otto Warmbier was arrested in North Korea, he was sentenced to 15 years hard labour for taking a propaganda poster from his hotel.

Warmbier suffered an injury while in custody and went into a coma, he was released by the Pyongyang authorities but died soon after returning to America.

The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to North Korea.

The government says the level of tension on the Korean Peninsula remains high and, while daily life in the capital city, Pyongyang, may appear calm, the security situation in North Korea can change quickly with no advance warning about possible actions by the authorities.

This poses significant risks to British visitors and residents, according to the Foreign Office.

A spokesperson told STV News: “We advise people to research their destination including reviewing our travel advice.

“We constantly review all travel advice to make sure it reflects the current situation in that country or territory, and the latest assessment of risk to British people there.”