After nearly five years of tightly sealed borders,
North Korea will reopen to international tourists
for the first time since the COVID 19 pandemic.
Here’s what we know. Two Chinese tourist companies,
Koryo Tours and KTG Tours,
announced online
that tour groups will be able to visit the North Korean city
of Samjiyon starting in December.
Koryo Tours
said that North Korean authorities will open the city to tourists
from anywhere in the world
aside from South Korea. KTG Tours said in a Facebook post, quote,
so far just Samjiyon has been mentioned,
but we think that Pyongyang and other places will open too.
Samjiyon has been the focus of great redevelopment projects
in recent years, according to North Korean media.
In July, it was announced that the city’s airport will be rebuilt,
a military ski base will be converted into a resort,
and new railways and hotels will be created
to accommodate foreign tourists.
Samjiyon is close to the Chinese border and the historic Mount Paektu,
where the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was reportedly born.
Prior to the pandemic,
Samjiyon was a popular destination for Chinese tourists. However,
some do not believe the country will truly open come December.
Chad O’carroll, the CEO of US based analysis firm Korea Risk Group,
said, quote,
I’m skeptical we will see any real movement in December,
noting the city’s redevelopment is not yet complete.
O Carol also said, quote,
I can imagine only Russian tourists
and possibly Chinese visiting in any Real numbers at first.
Currently, American citizens are unable to visit North Korea
because of a US ban on travel to the country.