On Saturday, thousands of soldiers took part in a parade through Pyongyang as North Korea displayed its military hardware to the world.

The lavish event - which, unusually, saw a huge amount of international media, delegates and tourists visit the isolated country - was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.

A predictably provocative and defiant speech from leader Kim Jong-Un served as the centerpiece of activities. 

For many in the Western world - and even people much closer to its border - North Korea remains a mysterious entity, known for its threatening rhetoric, oppressive leadership and the often bizarre and troubling stories and rumours that occasionally emerge from the notoriously secretive country.

On today's Right Hook, George was joined by John Everard, the former British Ambassador to North Korea, to offer listeners an insight into what the country is really like.

John started by offering a quick history lesson, describing how Korea was divided after the Second World War. "Things started to go wrong quite quickly," he explained. "The Americans and Stalin did a deal whereby the Americans took the Japanese surrender south of the 38th parallel, and Stalin took the surrender north... I don't think either side thought at that point that this division was going to become permanent, but of course that's precisely what happened".

He argued that "there's all kind of mistakes that have been made by Britain, United States... I do think North Korea was one of them. I think it was an accident waiting to happen. When the Soviet Union took over the north of Korea, they did not do a lot of state building. It was left to the Red Army. And then you discover that the [leaders] can hold on to power is becoming more and more oppressive, leading to the horrible mess we have now".

South Korea is now known as one of the most developed countries, but John suggested it's only a recent development. "Up until South Korea's fairly recent economic prosperity, Korea was poor - it was backward, a peasant society, very conservative and with not a lot of industry. Things have changed a lot in South Korea - not quite so much in the north".

While the country has a reputation for secrecy, there are now plenty of companies who will bring tourists into the country - albeit with stricter supervision and limitations that your average trip away. It may not be cheap, but John says Irish people shouldn't experience many passport issues. "Go ahead, plan your summer hols," he told George.

John observed there was some hope earlier this year that North and South Korea might establish a dialogue, but "since then North Korea has hardened again".

He also commented on North Korea's nuclear policy, and how relations have cooled between Beijing and Pyongyang as a result.

You can listen back to John's full interview below: