North Korea Set to ‘Reopen’ to Tourists with Strict Five-Day Itinerary
Photo Courtesy: Martin Cígler via Wikimedia Commons
Starting on the 12th of February, North Korea will be hosting a new lineup of organised tours, welcoming travellers worldwide for the first time since pandemic lockdowns in 2020. The country has been accepting Russian tourists since early 2024, to strengthen political ties. However, the new tourism project located in Rason will be open to global visitors, excluding South Koreans.
The city of Rason, one of North Korea’s ‘Special Economic Zones’ was established during the 1990s to encourage foreign investment and to field test alternative economic models. The SEZ defies many communist rules upheld in the rest of the country, allowing private banking and private property. The area is closely located to the borders of China and Russia, making the city conveniently accessible to North Korea’s closest allies. China and Russia have been strongly involved in the DPRK’s ambitions for the zone, as Rason is closely overseen by the China-DPRK Joint Management Committee, features roads leading to both China and Russia and hosts a Russian-operated port.
The tour itself is hosted by the Beijing-based Koryo Tours and includes a jam-packed five-day itinerary featuring martial arts performances, hiking, culinary classes, wildlife viewings, and festive celebrations for Kim Jong Il’s birthday on the 16th. The first group, departing on the 12th, will only include 20 foreigners. Tourists will spend their first evening being briefed on the strict rules and safety must-knows for their travels in North Korea and will be directed by local guides.
Despite the strict organisation of the tours, the UK’s Foreign Office strongly advises against any non-essential travel to the country, due to volatile politics, safety concerns and the DPRK’s previous refusals to cooperate with UK governments. The Foreign Office warns that “North Korean authorities have previously detained foreign nationals for allegedly violating local laws and have denied them access to support from their governments” and stresses that those who still decide to visit must strictly follow their tour guides.