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North Korea Tourism Is Back – But It’s Not Going to Be the Same as Before

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Koryo Tours, a travel agency specializing in North Korean tours, has announced that tourism in North Korea will resume under a new system different from its previous operations.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of North Korea\'s Workers\' Party. / News1
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, and Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party. / News1

According to the Koryo Tours website on Thursday, the agency issued a notice on November 21 stating that it had received information from North Korean authorities indicating significant changes to future tourism operations. The agency said it is currently reviewing the specifics of the new tourism packages and has removed all previously listed North Korea tour programs from its website, which had been provided for reference. However, the details of the revised offerings have yet to be disclosed.

Reference photo of North Korea tours / Screenshot from the Koryo Tours website
Reference photo of North Korea tours / Screenshot from the Koryo Tours website

Even after North Korea suspended tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Koryo Tours continued listing programs similar to those previously offered, stating they would be resumed immediately once the country reopened its borders. However, the latest announcement suggests that tourism may no longer operate in the same way as before.

In this regard, Koryo Tours revealed that North Korean officials had informed them that tourism would gradually reopen starting in December, beginning with Samjiyon City. However, the agency noted in its recent statement that “as December approaches, the likelihood of tourism resuming appears increasingly slim,” indicating that a restart this year is unlikely.

While North Korea lifted its COVID-19 lockdown in August 2023 and reopened some of its borders, tourism remains limited and is only permitted for Russian nationals.

The Workers\' Newspaper, the official publication of North Korea\'s Workers\' Party, reported on Monday that Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia\'s Minister of Sport, and his delegation visited various sites in Pyongyang. / Rodong Sinmun
The Workers’ Newspaper, the official publication of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, reported on Monday that Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia’s Minister of Sport, and his delegation visited various sites in Pyongyang. / Rodong Sinmun

On Monday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Il Guk, North Korea’s Minister of Sports, and Mikhail Degtyarev, Russia’s Minister of Sport, met in Pyongyang to sign a 2025 Sports Exchange Protocol. This agreement reportedly includes joint sports events, professional training programs, and sports tourism.

Russia’s Ministry of Sport had already announced in a press release last September that it was preparing exchange agreements with North Korea covering 16 different sports. The recent agreement has fueled speculation that North Korea may seek to develop new tourism products in collaboration with Russia.

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