“In February of 2016, we entered DPRK (The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). More commonly known as ‘North Korea’. With skis in our hands, we aren’t journalists. We have no political agenda, whatsoever. We just wanted to peak behind the curtain of a hidden country, and show it to you, as it was shown to us.”

“We just wanted to peak behind the curtain of a hidden country, and show it to you, as it was shown to us.”

These are the opening lines from Kiwi freeskier Sam Smoothy, who, together with filmmaker Will Lascelles, embarked on a ski trip like no other.

The pair documented their trip into what is widely regarded as the world’s most secretive country, hitting the ski slopes of Masik Ski Resort – one of a number of tourism recent initiatives relied upon to produce some “much needed hard currency” for the poverty stricken nation.

In an interview with news.com.au, Smoothy opens up about his initial fears entering North Korea.

“I’ve never really been known for my subtlety or discretion. It’s so hard to understand what you could or couldn’t do anyway, and when the consequences are so high there’s this constant tension,” Smoothy revealed in the interview.

“We weren’t there with any hidden agenda, we just wanted to show other skiers what it was like to be there with skis in your hand. We figured as long as we went with the flow of things, it would be OK.”

And the skiing?

“It was really cool terrain, plenty of rollers and lots of little tree runs. It could be really good, it’s close to Japan and that has some of the best terrain in the world, but it’s hard to know when the best time is for snow.”