North Korea Plans to Reopen for Tourism with Kim Jong-il Birthday Tours

Tour operators announce potential trips to Rason, marking the first foreign tourism to North Korea since 2020, though final approvals remain pending.

North Korea may reopen its borders to foreign tourists for the first time since closing in January 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beijing-based Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours are offering packages to Rason, a special economic zone near the Chinese and Russian borders.
The tours coincide with the February 16 'Day of the Shining Star,' commemorating the birthday of late leader Kim Jong-il, a major national holiday in North Korea.
Itineraries include visits to local factories, schools, and a bank where tourists can reportedly open North Korean accounts, though details remain unconfirmed.
The tours are not yet finalized as they await approval from Chinese authorities to reopen the border crossing into North Korea.