North Korea set to reopen borders to foreign tourists
Al JazeeraAUG 20 2024
After nearly five years of border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea will gradually resume tourism. Foreign tourists will have the opportunity to visit Samjiyon in December, as reported by two China-based travel companies on Wednesday.
North Korea’s restrictions started to ease up in the middle of last year. The closure of borders also caused a halt in imports, resulting in food shortages worsened by international sanctions linked to the country’s nuclear program.
Shenyang-based KTG Tours said in a post on Facebook that there has been no announcement regarding when the rest of the country, including Pyongyang, will open up. The company said they expected it would happen soon, but there has been no official confirmation yet.
Although no official statement has confirmed the plan that North Korea will open up to foreign visitors by the end of the year, the information is consistent with Pyongyang's aspirations. State media said in July that initiatives are underway to relaunch international tourism, primarily from "friendly" nations. In a recent visit to Samjiyon, Kim Jong Un outlined plans for the reconstruction of the airport, turning a military ski base into a ski resort, and building railways, hotels and other amenities.
We should approach any news from North Korea with caution. Despite Pyongyang's lofty ambitions, the reality is that it lacks the funds to complete all of its tourist projects. December isn't far away, and it's unlikely that Samjiyon is ready to welcome tourists in any larger numbers. At the outset, it is probable that only a few Russian and Chinese tourists will make it there.