Authorities in Primorye Krai, in the eastern part of Russia, promoted a tour package to the country in February. An agreement which could be linked to the recent rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang. Is this a sign of North Korea’s opening to tourism after more than four years of closure linked to the pandemic?
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From our correspondent in Seoul, Nicolas Rocca
Four days and three nights in North Korea for $750. This is the offer offered by a travel agency in Vladivostok, a Russian city near the border with the hermit kingdom. On the program, a departure on February 9 for Pyongyang before discovering the Masikryong ski resort. The Primorsky Krai government promoted the trip, saying the offer was linked to negotiations between the governor and North Korean authorities.
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This first trip would be a trial run before a wider opening in April, according to the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Information that could be significant given that since 2020, no foreign tourists have entered the country. This does not mean, however, that North Korea, double-closed since 2020, opens the door to a general return of tourism. Other travel agencies have promoted trips to North Korea during the pandemic, without them actually taking place.
The North Korean authorities have not made any announcement on the imminent opening of their borders. But if it is confirmed, this could only apply to countries allied to Pyongyang. Since its rapprochement with Moscow, North Korea has clearly favored its relations with Russia and China. According to figures from specialist media NK News, in 2019, North Korea was able to benefit from $175 million in additional revenue, thanks to an increase in the number of Chinese tourists.
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