North Korean tour guide offers startling insights into what his country REALLY thinks about 'hostile' America

An American backpacker traveling through North Korea asked his tour guide about the country's relationship with the United States – and was stunned by the response.

His guide seemed to reflect the citizens' point of view within the totalitarian regime, as many viewers pointed out that the guide's story did not quite reflect the whole story.

“A unique shot of a North Korean party member explaining his perception of the United States,” reads the clip, shared by travel content creator Jesse Romberg, who posts under the username @homeless.backpacker.

“What do you think is the general perception of, let's say, the United States in North Korea, in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea?” Jesse begged his nameless guide – North Korea being short for Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the country calls itself.

'So far we have no history of invasions. Korea – North Korea – has no history of invasions,” the unnamed man began.

'[America] so many countries have been invaded. But there is no history of invasion [from DPRK],” he continued.

“We have not done any harmful things to America, but America has invaded our country.

'Yet they are in the south of our country. And they are still pursuing hostile policies against our country and sanctions against our country,” he continued.

“So what we want to say [to the US] It is to leave our country, lift all sanctions – then we can restore relations… Relations between America and our country will become better.”

Jesse also shed light on the guide's comments, explaining in another Instagram Story that North Korea does not recognize the separate nations of North and South Korea. He added that the regime views Korea as one country, with the US “occupying the southern part of Korea.”

South Korea is internationally recognized as an independent nation.

When talking about the “invasion” of Korea, the guide is referring to the Korean War that began when North Korea, led by Kim Il-sung and supported by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea in 1950.

Meanwhile, the United States had installed Syngman Rheea as South Korea's first president in 1948, who also served as an anti-communist leader in the region.

Given the Cold War power struggle, North Korea's invasion of South Korea was also seen by the United States as an existential threat to democracy.

Ten days after the invasion, the United States descended on the Korean Peninsula. The United Nations also got involved and supported South Korea, and China sent troops to support North Korea.

The ensuing battle claimed the lives of nearly three million Koreans, at least half of whom were civilian deaths. Nearly a million Chinese soldiers were also killed, while the US suffered 54,000 casualties.

When an armistice was declared in 1953, the border between North and South Korea remained virtually unchanged.

South Korea remains a US ally and the US has a strong military presence in the country.

Meanwhile, the Kim family continues to rule North Korea, with Kim Il-sung's grandson, Kim Jong Un, currently ruling as Supreme Leader.

The country is seen as one of the most ruthless totalitarian regimes in the world. Citizens cannot leave the country without government permission, under penalty of death.

Speaking out against the government can also be punishable by death, making the prospect of questioning one of its citizens on camera about international relations quite fraught.

The “sanctions” against North Korea that the guide referred to have been kept in place largely because the country has pushed to develop its nuclear program.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations: 'North Korea's leadership, under successive Kims, views nuclear weapons as the only means to guarantee its survival.

'[The capital city of] Pyongyang points to U.S. military bases in the region, as well as the war games the United States regularly engages in with its allies, as a threat to its survival.”

Some viewers quibbled in the comments section of Jesse's TikTok about the veracity of the guide's statements, with most seemingly easily believing the guide's narrative painting of North Korea in a more benevolent light.

“Really good to get to know another side of the story,” one person wrote, while another echoed, “Well said. To be honest, that's a position I've never thought about.'

Another pushed back: “It was a CIVIL WAR, educate yourself.”

In Jesse's Instagram Highlights video of his trip to North Korea, he explained that he reached the country through a Chinese tourism agency.

On the train ride from China to North Korea, Jesse remembered not seeing a single car and said, “Every person only has a bicycle. And dilapidated buildings, with children bathing in brown river water.'

About 60 percent of North Korea's nearly 26 million residents are thought to live below the poverty line.

“Now fast forward. Suddenly we're in Dubai,” Jesse continued, referring to the opulence of Pyongyang.

“It is important to note that this was a complete propaganda tour,” he wrote of the experience, adding, “The government creates the entire itinerary and only shows you what they are allowed to show.”