North Korea to Reopen Limited International Tourism by Late 2024
In a significant development for the isolated nation, North Korea is set to reopen limited international tourism by the end of 2024, nearly five years after closing its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tour companies with ties to North Korea, such as Beijing-based Koryo Tours and Shenyang-based KTG Tours, have announced that tour groups will soon be permitted to visit Samjiyon, a mountainous city believed to be the birthplace of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Koryo Tours confirmed through an online announcement that they have received confirmation from local partners regarding the resumption of tourism to Samjiyon, with exact itineraries and further details expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. Similarly, KTG Tours indicated that while only Samjiyon has been mentioned, other destinations, including the capital Pyongyang, may soon follow.
Samjiyon holds a position of cultural and historical significance, lying close to the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula, Mount Paektu. This active volcano is not only revered as the cradle of the Korean people but also carries immense symbolic weight for both North and South Koreans. South Korea's former president, Moon Jae-in, and first lady Kim Jung-sook symbolically visited Mount Paektu alongside Kim Jong Un in 2018, highlighting its importance to the North Korean regime.
For many North Koreans, visiting the summit of Mount Paektu represents a form of religious pilgrimage. Observers note that the Paektu bloodline lends legitimacy to the ruling Kim family, viewed as a crucial aspect of their governance. Prior to the pandemic, Samjiyon was a favored destination for Chinese tourists who contributed significantly to North Korea's tourism revenue, which had been impacted by international sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Reports suggest that Kim Jong Un has been personally involved in the region, having conducted inspections of construction sites in Samjiyon as recently as July. While North Korean state media have yet to officially announce the re-opening for international visitors, Kim has previously emphasized a preference for tourists from allied nations such as Russia and China. Earlier this year, approximately 100 Russian tourists traveled to North Korea via a North Korean-owned Air Koryo plane from Vladivostok, marking the first instance of tourism resumption since the pandemic.
The forthcoming reopening signifies a key moment for a nation that has remained largely cut off from the global community, especially as border restrictions have been historically rigorous, rendering North Korea arguably the most isolated it has been since the Cold War. United States citizens face travel bans to and through North Korea unless specifically authorized by the U.S. State Department, which has classified it as a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” region.
In related developments, this announcement on tourism opens a window of opportunity shortly after Kim's visit to the developing Wonsan-Kalma beach resort on the eastern coast, which is projected to open in May 2025 following delays tied to the pandemic and UN sanctions. As North Korea navigates through the aftermath of the pandemic, its cautious return to international tourism may pave the way for increased engagement with a world that has long viewed the regime with skepticism.
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