P5/3Z9DX is now off the air for now. After logging several hundred stations — most in Asia — during an unexpected operation from North Korea, the world’s most-wanted DXCC entity, Dom Grzyb, 3Z9DX, is back at his hotel, resting and recuperating from a cold. According to DX-World, he will leave for Beijing on December 22. The equipment he transported to North Korea in advance of a planned operation early next year will remain in government hands for now. Grzyb operated on 20, 15, and 10 meters during his surprise operation, which got under way early on December 20 (UTC).

Propagation was unfavorable due to a geomagnetic storm that seems to have affected his efforts on 20 meters. He also reported that he faced extremely high ambient noise levels in Pyongyang. He ran 100 W to a vertical antenna mounted on a metal fencepost some 7 feet above the ground among government high-rise buildings.

During his time on the air, government officials came and went, apparently to keep a close watch on the Amateur Radio operation. He told DX-World on December 20 that his “real” DX operation, which appears poised to take place in February, might take place from a different location.

He will be returning to Poland by Christmas.