Bond surfs his way onto a beach in North Korea undetected, then removes a panel out of the board to reveal C4 explosives, a mini computer, combat knife, Walther P99 firearm and various other pieces of equipment kept watertight.

After borrowing Van Bierk's shades as a finishing touch to his perfect disguise, 007 takes his place at the meeting with Colonel Tan-Sun Moon.

Among other things, Van Bierk meant to trade the diamonds for a fleet of hovercraft that can easily traverse minefields in the demilitarized zone. When Bond's cover is blown, he steals one of the hovercraft, and a chase scene ensues that results in Colonel Tan-Sun Moon's death and Bond's capture by the North Koreans.

In an attempt to extract information from him, Bond is repeatedly stung by Parabuthus and deathstalker scorpions and then provided with the antiserum. A defiant Bond, however, refuses to reveal any MI6 secrets.

After Madonna saw the initial version of the film she adapted the song to its theme, described as a metaphor for destroying one's ego. "Die Another Day" spent 11 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles, making it the highest charting James Bond song in the U.S. since Duran Duran's "A View to Kill" (1985).

After fourteen months of captivity and torture at the hands of "Scorpion Girl", Bond is released as part of a prisoner exchange.

Initially believing he is to be executed, Bond is surprised when the soldiers retreat, leaving him alone on the bridge. A voice tells him to keep walking via loudspeaker. As he approaches the other end of the bridge, a figure emerges from the mist, and Bond recognizes Zao, Colonel Tan-Sun Moon's right-hand man, clad in western prison attire.

MI6 believes Bond has cracked under torture and is hemorrhaging information, forcing them to trade a terrorist for his release. M confronts Bond on-board a British warship in Hong Kong. Bluntly addressing the situation, she informs him that he is bound for MI6's evaluation center in the Falklands, and his Double-O status has been rescinded, along with his freedom.

After escaping MI6 custody, Bond learns from Chang, a Chinese agent and old colleague, that Zao is in Cuba. Bond convinces Chang that Zao is their common enemy, and Chang arranges for 007 to travel to Cuba in pursuit of the North Korean terrorist.

While Bond freshens up in his suite, there is a knock at the door. A masseuse introduces herself as Peaceful Fountains of Desire, telling Bond that she comes with "compliments from the manager." When Bond gets a little too cozy, she tells him she's "not that kind of masseuse". When Bond takes possession of the Llama Especial Pistol hidden under her dress, he tells her "he's not that kind of customer."