After nearly five years of border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea will reopen the mountainous northern city of Samjiyon to foreign tourists in December, according to tour operators.
At least two China-based operators, Shenyang’s KTG Tours and Beijing’s Koryo Tour, have announced that tourists will soon be allowed to visit the city.
North Korea sealed its borders at the start of the pandemic in early 2020 and began easing restrictions only in the middle of last year. The closures cut off imports of essential goods, leading to food shortages exacerbated by international sanctions due to the country’s nuclear program.
Tourist Access and Travel Conditions
KTG Tours stated on its Facebook page that while Samjiyon has been officially confirmed, they believe Pyongyang and other places will also open soon. Koryo Tour expressed excitement for the reopening of North Korean tourism and mentioned that tourists from any country, except South Korea, are allowed to join the trips. However, the US bans its citizens from traveling to North Korea.
Chad O’Carroll, CEO of the US-based analysis firm Korea Risk Group, expressed skepticism about the reopening announcement, stating, “I will believe it when I see it.” He also pointed out that Samjiyon’s redevelopment is incomplete and that only Russian tourists and possibly Chinese visitors may visit in significant numbers initially, unless North Korea offers direct Samjiyon flights to a neutral connection country like Mongolia.
The Historical and Cultural Significance of Samjiyon
Samjiyon lies at the foot of North Korea’s tallest mountain, Paektu, which straddles the China-North Korea border and is known for its winter attractions. North Korean propaganda claims that the mountain is where the country’s founder, Kim Il Sung, battled Japanese occupation forces and launched the revolution, and where the incumbent’s father, Kim Jong Il, was born.
Since early 2024, North Korea has only allowed Russian tourists to enter the country, amid warming ties between the two nations. It was only in August last year that North Korea allowed the return of citizens who were locked out because of border controls, becoming one of the last few countries to do so.
