After 5 long years of isolation from the outside world, North Korea has finally opened its borders to Western countries for tourism after the pandemic. As of late February, they have already had visitors from France, Canada, Britain, and Germany, not counting the United States and South Korea. However, they were only able to visit the northeastern city of Rason because it is a specially designated economic zone near the border of Russia and China, which is also mostly used as a testing ground. Visitors could not view anything else, including the capital city of North Korea, Pyongyang. You might want to learn more about what life is like in North Korea, but unfortunately, it has come to a halt as tourism for Western countries has already stopped after only two weeks of opening.
Why did North Korea Halt Western Tourism?
No one knows. There is not much information about why North Korea has halted their tourism, but those who are interested in touring in April and May should refrain from booking any flights, as there is still no information about whether or not they will open up during those months. Koryo Tours, one of the organizations that provides Western foreigners with tours, has received news that the North Korean border will be closed for any more Western foreigners, but they have not received any other information besides the fact that they will be closed for the time being.
Why did they only allow foreigners to view Rason but not other areas?
As stated before, Rason is more often used as a testing ground for North Korea where things would feel more scripted. It is also close to the borders of Russia and China, North Korea’s closest and best allies. Rason is also known for being the most isolated area in North Korea.
Did North Korea get tourists before Westerners?
North Korea had started to open its borders for Russian tourists in 2023, having over 900 Russian tourists visit North Korea just last year. It’s also known that North Korea does have a mutual defense pact with Russia, and has also sent weapons to aid Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
What was tourism like in North Korea?
This is based on Luca Pferdmenges’s experience on one of the latest North Korean tours – “To get into North Korea, you would have to enter through China first, and security is very tight once you step foot into the North Korean borders, as they would sometimes check your phones. In these tours, you are only allowed to wander through designated areas on guided tours by your operators and if you’re interested in taking any photos or videos, you would have to ask your advisors.” He states that, “it feels more like a school field trip rather than a vacation tour as even your bus seats are assigned. Once you step out into the city of Rason, you are immediately greeted with a bunch of propaganda posters, pictures of leaders, and flags instead of advertisements. You would also find that many people wear masks, and bags are being disinfected as COVID-19 is still a big thing in North Korea. You might notice that many people in the rural areas of Rason are in poverty with oxen pulling carriages instead of cars and trucks. You are told not to photograph these people because they are ‘run down and shabby’.”
Many find North Korea to be a strict and scary place, but maybe you find it to be interesting enough to visit. If you are ever interested, check with Koryo Tours to see if the boarders are open.
Sources:
https://www.wanderlustmagazine.com/news/north-korea-reopens-western-tourists/
