North Korea will partially reopen to tourists this year after nearly five years, according to tour operators.
Koryo Tours, a tourism agency specializing in trips to North Korea, announced on Thursday that tourism to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will resume in December.
Tours will initially be limited to the North Korean city of Samjiyon, but the reopening may be extended to other locations, Koryo Tours said.
“Having waited for over 4 years to make this announcement, Koryo Tours is very excited for the opening of North Korean tourism once again,” the agency said in a press release.
The agency explained that Samjiyon was chosen because it has recently been developed as a tourist destination. Koryo Tours previously visited Samjiyon in 2018 while filming the British documentary series “Michael Palin in North Korea.”
Koryo Tours said its North Korean partners have informed the agency that itinerary and dates will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Once we have finalized dates and itineraries, they will be available for booking on our website,” the company said.
North Korea closed its borders at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, barring almost all outsiders from entering the country for business, travel, or non-vital diplomatic relations. The country only partially reopened its borders last year.
The country has struggled to fully open since the pandemic, as the regime lacked the resources and infrastructure to effectively combat the outbreak within its borders.
Digital’s Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.