A group from Russia is on the verge of becoming the inaugural group of tourists permitted entry into North Korea since the commencement of anti-pandemic border lockdowns in early 2020, as reported by Russian provincial authorities and corroborated by a Western tour guide.
North Korea implemented some of the most stringent border controls globally during the COVID-19 pandemic and has not yet completely reinstated access for foreign visitors.
The aforementioned excursion, promoted by an agency based in Vladivostok, has been organized after discussions held in December between the governor of Russia’s Primorsky Krai, situated in the far eastern region bordering North Korea, and officials in Pyongyang. As elucidated in an official communication on Telegram by the regional government this week,
The four-day tour, set to commence on February 9, encompasses visits to Pyongyang and a ski resort, as detailed in the online schedule.
Simon Cockerell, the General Manager of Koryo Tours based in Beijing, a firm not directly affiliated with this particular trip, informed Reuters that his North Korean associates have corroborated the occurrence of the Russian visit, emphasizing the unique circumstances surrounding its realization.
He further stated that , “It is a good sign, but I would hesitate to say it necessarily will lead to a broader opening due to the special circumstances for this one trip,” he said. “But given that no tourists have been for four-plus years, any tourism trip can be viewed as a positive step forward.”
In September, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin convened for a summit in eastern Russia, during which they affirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration across economic, political, and military domains, notwithstanding the prevailing international sanctions.
Notably, tourism remains largely unaffected by U.N. Security Council resolutions that impose restrictions on commercial engagements with North Korea in response to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
In the year preceding the onset of the global pandemic, North Korea experienced a notable influx of Chinese tourists, potentially contributing an additional revenue influx of up to $175 million in 2019, as estimated by the Seoul-based research institution NK News.
