Seoul: North Korea has abruptly suspended the entry of foreign tourists after reopening foreign tourism for the first time in about five years due to COVID-19, according to tour agencies Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Koryo Tours, a China-based agency specializing in North Korean tours, announced on its website that their tours to Rason are temporarily closed. The company described the situation as "unprecedented" and stated it will provide further updates as more information becomes available, without explaining the cause of the suspension.
Young Pioneer Tours (YPT), another China-based agency, also communicated the suspension of its tours to Rason, a northeastern special economic zone in North Korea, on its Facebook account. YPT mentioned that they have been advised by their partners in the DPRK that tours to Rason are currently paused and are in the process of clarifying the impact on upcoming trips. The agency advised those planning tours in April and May to refrain from booking flights until more information is available.
Late last month, Western tourists began arriving in Rason for group tours, as North Korea reopened tourism to foreigners for the first time since imposing COVID-19 border controls in early 2020. Since September 2023, only Russians had been allowed into North Korea for limited group tours after the North resumed the local entry of foreigners.
The recent reopening of Rason to foreign tourists has sparked speculation that the reclusive country may open other areas to foreign tourism. Tourism catering to foreigners remains a source of foreign currency for North Korea, which is heavily sanctioned by the international community for its nuclear and missile programs. It also serves as a tool for the country's propaganda aimed at outsiders.