This move signals that North Korea is preparing to lift its strict COVID-19 border controls and welcome international tourists for the first time since 2020. Local tourism operators KTG and Koryo Tours have confirmed that their partners in North Korea informed them about the government’s plans to allow visits to select locations.
In December, tourists will be able to visit Samjiyon, a city near Mount Paektu, the revered mountain believed by North Korean leaders to be the birthplace of Kim Jong-un’s family. Kim himself has made numerous visits to the area since 2018.
Although North Korea has remained mostly closed to foreign tourists since 2020, limited international flights resumed in 2023, and a small group of Russians reportedly visited the country in February.
North Korea has been investing in tourism development, particularly in Samjiyon, which is located near the Chinese border. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who visited the city in July, praised it as a “model of a highly civilized mountain city,” featuring new hotels, attractions, and a ski resort.
The reopening of tourism could help North Korea economically recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Koryo Tours, introductory trips to North Korea typically range from 600 to 1,500 Euros per person, depending on factors such as departure point, trip duration, group size, and accommodation.