According to Ferdinando Baldi, Frank Zagarino spent two days in a North Korean jail during filming because Zagarino was suspected of being an American spy because he liked taking photos.
Unlike in all other North Korean co-productions, Korea is not mentioned in this film at all. The plot takes place in an anonymous, mysterious outlaw country. All hangul signs have been replaced by Chinese signs, even the license plates of cars have their hanguls taped over. Pyongyang landmarks such as Pyongyang Station, the Koryo Hotel and the Pyongyang subway are however clearly on display.