Overview

• North Korea has welcomed its first tourists since the pandemic began, with a Russian group arriving for a four-day trip.
• The visit signals a potential thaw in North Korea's strict border controls imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
• Tourism to North Korea remains limited, with the country's borders still closed to tourists from many other nations.
• The trip underscores deepening cooperation between North Korea and Russia, following recent high-level meetings between their leaders.
• Observers are watching closely to see if this marks the beginning of a broader reopening to international tourists.