In 2003 Suzannah was the first British performer to sing in the DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea/North Korea) in a series of recitals in Pyongyang. She sang operatic arias and several Korean songs - but, apparently, the North Korean public particularly enjoyed her rendition of Danny Boy!

Since her visit she has become famous in their country and regularly features on television and radio programmes. This year she took her mother Sheelagh with her, who has also become famous!

There is a much more serious side to the visits however. The North Korean government granted Suzannah access to see the work of the World Food Programme and she visited hospitals, kindergartens, schools and local council meetings.

Suzannah noticed that the children are very musical though they desperately need equipment, and is currently raising money to buy instruments for the schools in the most deprived areas. She hopes to try to encourage cultural links between our countries.

Middlesbrough Link

In 1966 the North Korean Football Team went to play their first World Cup game at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough.

After the Korean War of the 1950s the team expected a hostile reception. However, the Mayor of the town asked the people of Middlesbrough to accept the players as individuals and sportsmen.

The people of the town welcomed the North Koreans with open arms and supported them en masse on the terraces at Ayresome Park for the Korean's first game against the favourites, Italy. The Koreans were surprised and delighted at their reception and it was an enormous shock to the world when these virtually unknown outsiders won and sent the Italian team home to face being pelted with tomatoes.

To this day the name "Middlesbrough" brings smiles of friendship in North Korea. When Suzannah visited for the first time it became known that she was ambassador for her home town of Middlesbrough and she was treated with great warmth and hospitality.

2001 Visit

In 2001 Nicholas Bonner and Dan Gordon arranged for the remaining members of the North Korean team of 1966 to visit Middlesbrough. Suzannah welcomed them in their language and sang the North Korean Song of Friendship at Middlesbrough FC's new ground the Riverside Stadium.

Nick and Dan's film about the North Korean 1966 World Cup story "Games of their Lives" is a must see!