North Korea reopens borders to tourists after a five-year COVID-19 pause

North Korea is once again opening its borders to foreign tourists after a five-year pause caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign visitors were last able to visit this closed-off country in 2020.

The first city to welcome tourists will be the port city of Rason, located on the coast of the Sea of Japan. Trips there are being organised by Koryo Tours, which has worked with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea since 1993. While the company's website already features programmes lasting four to seven nights, the new tour follows a different format.

Attractions and trip details

The programme includes a visit to the Special Economic Zone, where experiments with more open economic policy have taken place in recent years. It was here, in particular, that the country's first mobile network was launched and a cashless payment system introduced.

Guests will be offered a hike in the Mount Sahyang area, boat trips to observe seals, a visit to a school uniform factory in Rason, and a chance to try the basics of taekwondo. In addition, the trip is timed to coincide with one of the country's major holidays — the birthday of Kim Jong Il.

Nevertheless, at the time the tour was launched, Koryo Tours' website had no final confirmation that it would go ahead as planned or match the advertised programme. Before the trip, tourists must attend a briefing covering rules of conduct, safety standards, and other aspects of staying in North Korea. During the tour, the group will remain under the supervision of official guides, and there is no provision for free movement outside the programme.

Expanding options for travellers

Koryo Tours director Simon Cockerell told The Independent that such tours can be beneficial both for tourists and for the host country. According to him, such trips help "broaden horizons and deepen understanding of the culture."

It's worth noting that the first Russian tourists visited North Korea back in February 2024, when a trip from Primorsky Krai was organised to the Masikryong ski resort. The opening of new destinations signals the gradual return of international tourism to this closed-off country.