( CNN ) -- What might be a good way to get your misbehaving kids to pipe down this summer ? Tell them you 'll ship them off to North Korea . As a host of American kids spend their summers on the shores of lakes , or at Bible or band camps , over 300 children from around the world have headed off to the Songdowon International Children 's Camp in Wonsan , North Korea . It 's an oasis in the benighted country for attendees , who this year come from Russia , China , Vietnam , Tanzania and Ireland . Heavily subsidized by the government , camp attendees get the benefit of comforts not afforded to regular North Koreans , such as air-conditioned bedrooms with video games . Instead of forming a circle around a campfire , homesick kids at Songdowon can take succor from giant bronze statues of the country 's founder , Kim Il Sung and his son and successor , Kim Jong Il , surrounded by admiring children . The camp also boasts a private beach , volleyball courts and water slides . How you travel to North Korea . Originally opened in the 1960s to foster ties with other communist and non-aligned countries , it was given a major overhaul before reopening this summer . The revamp included some some personal attention from Kim Jong Un , who `` specified instructions for remodeling the camp , '' according to North Korean state media KCNA . For the equivalent of $ 270 , happy campers can spend eight days in the country , getting to know their North Korean peers , and officials reportedly would welcome kids from all over the world , including the U.S. One ex-camper , Russian Valentina Boltacheva , told NKNews.org last year that she remembers `` swimming , boating , and doing morning exercises , '' alongside learning traditional Korean dances and `` songs about Korean political leaders . '' She also said she came to the conclusion that `` Songdowon is a really prestigious camp in North Korea . '' The photos released this week stand in stark contrast to the picture of the country painted by a U.N. report in February , which cataloged a brutal state `` that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world . '' READ MORE : A runner 's view of the world 's most closed society . READ MORE : The North Korea we rarely see .
communist beachside this week camp reopens summer . over 300 children and teens from around the world are attending the summer trip . Highlights include a private beach , water slides and statues of dictators .