North Korea had opened its borders to Western tourists for the first time in five years. Visitors from various European countries became the first group of Western visitors to enter the country since the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the initial visit, tour companies announced that all trips were canceled until further notice. Pyongyang did not clarify the reason for this sudden halt.

After a five-year hiatus, North Korea allowed Western tourists to enter the country for the first time. The Kim Jong Un government banned the entry of tourists just a few weeks later. The country isolated itself at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 and began to ease restrictions by mid-2023. Last month, European tourists were allowed to enter the city of Rason, which was opened to Russian visitors in 2024.

SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE According to the British broadcaster BBC, following this visit, several tour companies announced the cancellation of trips to the country until further notice. Pyongyang did not explain the reason for this sudden halt. KTG Tours, a Chinese-based agency specializing in North Korea tours, said, “We received news from our Korean partners that Rason is closed to everyone. We will keep you updated.” Other agencies that announced the suspension include Young Pioneer Tours and Koryo Tours.

ENTRY OF WESTERN TOURISTS The first Western tourists began arriving in the city of Rason, which was declared a special economic zone by the North for testing new financial policies, on February 20. Tour companies told the BBC that visitors had more restricted movements compared to pre-pandemic travel, with fewer opportunities to wander the streets and talk to locals. There was also no phone or internet access in the region.

WHY WAS RASON CITY CHOSEN? One tour leader suggested that the reason for choosing Rason was its relatively closed nature and easy control. Before the pandemic, around 350,000 foreign tourists visited North Korea in 2019, with 90% of them being Chinese.