North Korea has said that it will reopen international tourism in its northeastern city of Samjiyon starting in December 2024, following a protracted COVID suspension. According to tour businesses, there are also plans to extend to other sections of the nation. This declaration follows a protracted suspension of foreign travel as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has essentially prevented foreigners from travelling to North Korea since early 2020.
This appears to please Koryo Tours, a company that has been operating in North Korea for over 30 years. The operator said, “We are thrilled about the return of North Korean tourism, having waited over four years to make this announcement.” The country’s borders have never been closed for as long as Koryo Tours has.
It was also verified by the operator, which has its headquarters in Shenyang, China, that travellers will be able to visit Samjiyon by the end of 2024. North Korea has showcased the city, which is close to the Chinese border, as an example of their “socialist utopia,” complete with brand-new residences, hotels, a ski resort, and a variety of commercial and cultural establishments.
Only last year did international flights to and from North Korea start up again. A private excursion by a small group of Russian tourists took place in February 2023, coinciding with improved relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, travelled to Russia on an infrequent basis in September 2022 to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Putin then travelled to North Korea in June 2023. There were people from all over Russia in the Russian tour group, which goes to show how popular visiting North Korea is.
Significant action was taken by Kim Jong Un in July 2023 against a few senior officials for their “irresponsible” handling of the Samjiyon project. The city is being marketed as an example of an extremely refined alpine city. Koryo Tours had already visited it in 2018 while assisting British media personality Michael Palin with a trip documentary.
Samjiyon is a city close to China’s border with North Korea. The city has been designed to exhibit a highly developed mountain city and is a component of North Korea‘s grandiose Phase 3A growth project. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un demonstrated the project’s significance to the state in 2023 by taking action against officials for mismanaging it.