North Korea to reopen to mass tourism after five years of isolation
Photo: DPRK to open borders to tourists (Getty Images)
North Korea will open its country to mass tourism for the first time in almost five years. The country will allow foreigners to enter after closing its borders at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Bloomberg.
Two major tour operators stated that they received notifications from their partners in North Korea that travel would resume in December 2024. KTG Tours also posted on social media that visitors can travel to Samjiyon starting this winter.
It is noted that the North Korean regime began easing border restrictions about a year ago but had not yet opened up to tourist groups. These groups were a source of cash flow for the country, which has minimal foreign currency reserves.
"Those visitors provided funds that helped the country make transactions abroad while it remains cut off from international banking," the statement said.
Cooperation between North Korean and Russian dictators
It is worth noting that North Korea is an ally of the Russian regime under dictator Putin. North Korea and Russia renewed an agreement originally signed during the Cold War when Putin and Kim Jong Un met in Pyongyang in the spring and agreed to provide military aid if either country is attacked.
Additionally, North Korea supplies weapons to Russia for its war against Ukraine. On August 11, during a combined attack by Russia on Ukrainian territory, Russian troops used a North Korean missile.
