North Korea Reopens Tourism After Pandemic

North Korea has reopened its borders to foreign tourists for the first time since January 2020, allowing limited visitors into the Rason Special Economic Zone. This marks a cautious revival of the tourism industry after years of isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The first group of tourists, organized by Young Pioneer Tours and Koryo Tours, includes around 15 visitors each, with itineraries featuring local attractions like a brewery, a taekwondo academy, and a unique border point intersecting with China and Russia. Australian tour manager Rowan Beard's arrival sparked excitement among North Korean officials, highlighting the rarity of non-Russian visitors. Rason, established in 1991 to attract foreign investment, was less popular than Pyongyang, which remains closed to all but Russian tourists. The reopening coincides with improving relations between North Korea and China, previously accounting for 90% of North Korea's tourist arrivals.