Joss Stone performs in bar in North Korea
Written by News on 16/03/2019
Joss Stone has performed a small gig in North Korea as part of plans to play in every country in the world.
The British star, who rose to fame with her debut album The Soul Sessions in 2003, has already performed in Syria for her Total World Tour.
For her latest gig, Stone was pictured singing in a bar in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang.
She had announced the performance a few days earlier in a video on her Instagram page, saying she was learning the national song and that she was “very excited to see this part of the world”.
Tour manager Simon Cockerell, who helped arrange the trip to the secretive nation, posted pictures from the show, and said in a later post showing Stone at the airport that it had been an “utterly unique gig, great show, something really special”.
Stone met Colin Crooks, the British ambassador to North Korea, who also posted about the performance on social media.
“Amazing to meet @JossStone tonight in #Pyongyang and see her perform in country no 176 (or is it 177?),” he said.
In a later post, he said it had been “lovely” to see Stone’s performance but warned that UK citizens are still advised “against all but essential travel” to North Korea.
As part of its travel advice, the Foreign Office said: “While daily life in the capital city Pyongyang may appear calm, the security situation in North Korea can change with little notice and with no advance warning of possible actions by the North Korean authorities.
“This poses significant risks to British visitors and residents.”
Those who do decide to travel should “follow the political and security situation very closely and stay in touch with your host organisation or tour operator”, the Foreign Office said.
Posting on Instagram after arriving in Syria at the beginning of March, Stone said that it “was a little scary crossing the border” but that it was “so nice to meet such welcoming, kind people”.
She added: “I have learnt a lot from my short time there and I hope that peace will come to everyone on all sides soon.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Joss Stone performs in bar in North Korea
