August 16th 2024.
North Korea has announced its plans to welcome back international tourists by the end of 2024, after sealing its borders for nearly five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was made by two tour companies, Koryo Tours and KTG Tours, both with connections to the isolated country.
In separate online announcements on Wednesday, these companies revealed that tour groups would be allowed to visit the mountainous city of Samjiyon, which is believed to be the birthplace of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Koryo Tours stated that they have received confirmation from their local partner that tourism to Samjiyon, and possibly the rest of the country, will officially resume in December 2024. They also mentioned that more details about the itinerary will be finalized in the coming days and weeks.
Similarly, KTG Tours also announced on Facebook that the exact dates for the tours are yet to be confirmed. However, they expressed hope that other places such as Pyongyang will also be open for tourists.
Samjiyon, located near the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula, Mount Paektu, holds great historical significance for both North and South Koreans. The mountain is considered the cradle of the Korean people and is an active volcano. South Koreans are currently restricted from visiting the North, but in 2018, then South Korean president Moon Jae-in and his wife visited the mountain with Kim Jong Un and his wife, emphasizing the symbolism of the mountain. For North Koreans, visiting the summit of Mount Paektu is similar to a religious pilgrimage.
The "Paektu" bloodline is what gives the ruling Kim family legitimacy, according to observers. It is believed that the second-generation leader, Kim Jong Il, was born in Russia, although this claim is disputed by Western historians. Samjiyon used to be a popular destination for Chinese tourists before the pandemic, with busloads of visitors arriving regularly.
Tourism has been a source of revenue for North Korea, especially in the face of international sanctions due to their nuclear and ballistic missile programs. In July, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally inspected construction sites in Samjiyon, as reported by state media. While there have been no official reports yet about the country reopening to foreign visitors, Kim has previously expressed his intention to prioritize visitors from "friendly" nations, which include Russia and China.
The pandemic forced North Korea to seal its borders and cut off contact with most of the outside world for several years. This also resulted in the withdrawal of most diplomatic missions and international nonprofits from the country, leaving it even more isolated. Currently, the United States considers North Korea a "Level 4: do not travel" destination and does not recognize their passports unless specially validated by the US Department of State.
The decision to reopen tourism comes about a month after Kim's visit to a new beachside tourism site, the Wonsan-Kalma zone, which is currently under development on the country's eastern coast. According to state news agency KCNA, Kim announced that the resort would open in May 2025, after facing construction delays due to the pandemic and United Nations sanctions.
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