North Korea to Reopen Borders for International Tourism in December

[Social Media]

 

North Korea is set to resume international tourism to its northeastern city of Samjiyon in December, marking a significant shift in the country's strict COVID-19 border controls. This development could be an indication that the reclusive nation is preparing to welcome larger groups of foreign tourists after years of isolation.

 

According to Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based tour operator, they have received confirmation from their local partner that tourism to Samjiyon—and likely to other parts of North Korea—will officially resume in December 2024. This news has sparked excitement within the tourism industry, particularly among those who have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of North Korea's borders. 

 

International flights to and from North Korea had resumed last year, and earlier this year, a small group of Russian tourists embarked on a private tour to the country. Additionally, top foreign officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have visited North Korea, further signaling the country's gradual reopening.

 

However, despite these developments, North Korea has remained largely closed to international tourists since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. The planned reopening of Samjiyon is seen as a significant milestone, as it suggests that the country may soon be ready to fully reopen to foreign visitors.

 

Koryo Tours expressed their excitement about the news, stating, "Having waited for over four years to make this announcement, Koryo Tours is very excited for the opening of North Korean tourism once again." The company also noted that their local partner would provide more details on itineraries and dates in the coming weeks.

 

Samjiyon, located near the Chinese border, has been a focal point of North Korea's efforts to build what it calls a "socialist utopia." The city has undergone significant development, with new apartments, hotels, a ski resort, and various commercial, cultural, and medical facilities being constructed. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been closely involved in the Samjiyon project, although he recently fired or demoted some senior officials for their "irresponsible" handling of the project.

 

In addition to Koryo Tours, another travel agency, KTG Tours, also announced that tourists would be able to visit Samjiyon starting this winter. This indicates growing interest and anticipation for the resumption of tourism in North Korea.

As the world watches closely, the reopening of Samjiyon could pave the way for a broader reopening of North Korea's borders, allowing foreign tourists to explore the country once again after years of pandemic-induced restrictions.

 

Credit: NBC News  2024-08-18

 

 

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[stoner]

we welcome you to NK. i was not paid to say that. honestly. 

[Tug]

I wouldn't recommend booking a trip……Kim is probably in the market for some western hostages……

[Cryingdick]

They do these government propaganda tours. I have watched a few on YouTube so feel like it may be interesting to see for a a day or two  have already been on the tour. They do not vary at all.

[stoner]

17 hours ago, Tug said:

I wouldn't recommend booking a trip……Kim is probably in the market for some western hostages……

 

propaganda.

 

we here in NK welcome all to visit our beautiful and bountiful country. 

[zmisha]

So good news for Russian Z guys like me who has been to Iran and China but has never been to North Korea. I hope there will be tours from Bangkok.

[nakhonandy]

I was there for work 25 years ago.

I was,extremely restricted on where I could go.

No doubt this will apply to tourists, who would want that on holiday?

[stoner]

1 hour ago, zmisha said:

So good news for Russian Z guys like me who has been to Iran and China but has never been to North Korea. I hope there will be tours from Bangkok.

 

please come. you are more than welcome. 

[mfd101]

If you're Usofan or Oz or Japanese you'ld have to be a fool to venture across the frontier.

[klauskunkel]

Visit North Korea and get your own iconic haircut right here!

[JonnyF]

I've heard the Brits are booking up already.

 

They're looking forward to 2 weeks of freedom of speech and some human rights as they escape Starmer's gulag. 

[josephbloggs]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I've heard the Brits are booking up already.

 

They're looking forward to 2 weeks of freedom of speech and some human rights as they escape Starmer's gulag. 

You are getting more and more ridiculous by the day.

Snowflakes not keen on law and order...

[JonnyF]

Just now, josephbloggs said:

You are getting more and more ridiculous by the day.

Snowflakes not keen on law and order...

 

I am keen on law and order as long as it is applied equallty across all demographics.

 

Clearly not the case in Starmer's Brave New World. 

 

2 Tier Britain. 

[stoner]

44 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Visit North Korea and get your own iconic haircut right here!

 

why are you slandering our dear leaders haircut. it is the most popular in all our land. 

 

growing up young boys look to kim for style and grace. this is true of all koreans. we love our dear leader. 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

After what happened to Otto Frederick Warmbier, anyone wanting to visit NK must be ‘the complete picnic basket short of a picnic !!’….

 

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

why are you slandering our dear leaders haircut. it is the most popular in all our land. 

 

growing up young boys look to kim for style and grace. this is true of all koreans. we love our dear leader. 

 

 

 

You are fortunate to have such a liberal leader to look up to.

 

Young Brits have Stalin, sorry I mean Starmer.

[stoner]

23 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

After what happened to Otto Frederick Warmbier, anyone wanting to visit NK must be ‘the complete picnic basket short of a picnic !!’….

 

 

our women weave the finest baskets in all the lands. our dear leader said it's so. 

[Hanuman2547]

I've got a number of places that I want to visit.  North Korea definitely isn't one of them.  

[Srikcir]

Reminder, don't take any wall posters as souvenirs unless you want to come home brain dead.

[Grusa]

I am sure that the gurus at TAT are quaking in their boots at the potential competition for international tourism. It could lead to a 0.00001% loss of foreign income!

[zmisha]

9 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I've heard the Brits are booking up already.

 

They're looking forward to 2 weeks of freedom of speech and some human rights as they escape Starmer's gulag. 

In North Korea, if you are an ordinary worker in a factory, you can tell what you really think to your manager, and then to you boss, and then to the director of the factory. This is what I call freedom of speech.
Let`s try to do it in your own country. Tell what you really think to you boss or to the director of your company. 1 ... 2 ... 3 seconds and you are fired. Haha.
This is real freedom of speech. And what you think the freedom of speech is? The freedom to say that the leader of your country is fool or so? That kind of freedom is absolutely useless in common life situations.

Edited August 19 by zmisha

[petermik]

Any "hostess" bars there by any chance....asking for a friend

[zmisha]

9 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

I've got a number of places that I want to visit.  North Korea definitely isn't one of them.  

When you visit all these places you will see all these - skyscrapers, KFC Starbucks and Pizza Hut shops - everything almost the same in every country. Then you will want something different that is not just another copy of New York or Los Angeles. And this will be the time you will want to visit Iran or North Korea. The sovereignty and independence of these countries from America allows them to do something of their own and not just copy everything from the Americans.

[richard_smith237]

20 minutes ago, zmisha said:

When you visit all these places you will see all these - skyscrapers, KFC Starbucks and Pizza Hut shops - everything almost the same in every country. Then you will want something different that is not just another copy of New York or Los Angeles. And this will be the time you will want to visit Iran or North Korea. The sovereignty and independence of these countries from America allows them to do something of their own and not just copy everything from the Americans.

 

Sure thing... like completely stripping you of any basic human rights...

 

[zmisha]

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Sure thing... like completely stripping you of any basic human rights...

 

I see your concerns. It makes sense to be careful for a western guys.
It is much easier for Z guys like me - we think that "freedom of speech" and "human rights" are just American brain washing brands.