North Korea is getting ready to welcome foreign tourists once again, with plans to reopen the northeastern city of Samjiyon to International travellers. Tour operators have also indicated that tourism may soon expand to other regions of the country. This announcement comes after a prolonged period of isolation, with North Korea largely barring foreign visitors since early 2020 due to the pandemic.
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Tour operators, such as Koryo Tours, are eagerly anticipating the return of tourism to the isolated nation. “We’ve waited over four years for this moment, and we’re excited to see North Korean tourism coming back to life,” the company said. The company, which has been organizing tours to North Korea for over 30 years, noted that this reopening is a welcome relief after an unprecedented period of border closures.
Samjiyon, located near the Chinese border, has been extensively developed during the pandemic. The city now features new residential areas, hotels, a ski resort, and a variety of cultural and commercial facilities. In a related move, Kim Jong Un took decisive action in July 2023 against senior officials responsible for the Samjiyon project, citing “irresponsible” management. The city has been a focal point of North Korea’s efforts and is being promoted as a model of its “socialist utopia” and a prime destination for international tourism.
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The reopening of Samjiyon is part of broader efforts by North Korea to re-engage with the international community. This follows the resumption of international flights and a series of high-profile diplomatic exchanges between Pyongyang and Moscow. Notably, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia in September 2022 for talks with President Vladimir Putin, who made a reciprocal visit to North Korea in June 2023.
