A Chinese travel agency announced on Tuesday that it will send a tour group to North Korea next week, marking the first such trip in five years.
North Korea closed its borders in early 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The country later strengthened its northern border with China to stop illegal re-entry by its citizens during the pandemic. While the border has gradually reopened for trade and official delegations, it wasn’t until last year that Russia became the first country allowed to send tourists to North Korea.
As a key ally of North Korea, China plays an essential role in supporting the country’s economically isolated government, which is under UN sanctions.
In December, several Western travel agencies confirmed they had received notice that foreign tourists would be allowed to visit Rason, a border city in North Korea. Now, Zhixingheyi Travel, based in Beijing, has announced that it received special approval from North Korea to organize a tour for Chinese citizens to Rason on February 24.
This will be the first private Chinese tour group to visit North Korea since the country closed its borders. The company made the announcement in an online statement.
Rason, located near the Chinese-Russian border, became North Korea’s first special economic zone in 1991. The city operates under a separate visa system and has been used to test new economic policies, including hosting the country’s first legal market.
Zhixingheyi plans to take up to 15 tourists on a four-day, three-night trip. The cost will range from 3,600 to 4,600 yuan ($500 to $635). The itinerary includes visits to a food processing plant, a duck farm, a deer ranch, and performances by local children, along with taekwondo demonstrations.
Du Mingrui, the chairman of Zhixingheyi Travel, stated that only a few foreign travel agencies are expected to gain access to North Korea as the country gradually reopens. “I believe North Korea will eventually fully open up, but for now, there won’t be many travel agencies operating there,” Du said in a phone interview.
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