North Korea Reopens to Foreign Tourists with Unique Offerings

KPNorth Korea|

North Korea's remote city of Rason is set to welcome international visitors for the first time since January 2020, with a special tour organized by Koryo Tours from February 12 to 18, 2025. The five-day itinerary offers a glimpse into this Special Economic Zone, the only region in North Korea where capitalism is actively encouraged. Tourists will engage in activities such as seal watching, a cooking course, and visits to a school uniform factory and a health facility for chronic gastritis.

Rason, located near the borders with Russia and China, stands out for its limited embrace of private enterprise, allowing locals to buy property in a nation where homeownership is typically illegal.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) warns potential travelers of the risks involved, noting the country's unpredictable security conditions and the potential for arrest over minor infractions. Additionally, it advises against all but essential travel to North Korea, emphasizing the alarming human rights situation. The tour is priced at approximately €705 (about $760) per person, excluding flights from major cities to Yanji, China.

Weekly Newsletter

Loading...

More from North Korea

North Korea Launches Short-Range Ballistic Missiles Amid Rising Regional Tensions

North Korea conducted several ballistic missile launches toward its eastern waters on May 8, 2025, prompting heightened military readiness in South Korea and its allies. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles fired from the vicinity of Wonsan were presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles, although the exact distance traveled remains unreported. This marks North Korea's first missile activity since March 10 and the sixth launch event of the year, as tensions rise on the Korean Peninsula. Analysts suggest that the frequency of missile tests aligns with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s intensified efforts to advance the country's nuclear capabilities and its military collaboration with Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. South Korean intelligence indicates that approximately 15,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to support Russia, with nearly 5,000 reported casualties in the Ukraine conflict. This military alignment has alarmed both Washington and Seoul, which are monitoring North Korea's weapon supply activities closely, according to defense officials.
KPNorth Korea

North Korea Confirms Troop Deployment to Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

North Korea has officially acknowledged sending troops to Russia to support military operations in the Kursk region against Ukraine, according to state news agency KCNA. This revelation marks the first time Pyongyang has confirmed its military involvement, which is said to be in accordance with a mutual defense treaty. Reports indicate that North Korea deployed over 10,000 soldiers to assist Russian forces in reclaiming territories under Ukrainian control. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised the soldiers, referring to them as "heroes" and announcing plans for a monument to honor their contributions. He emphasized the need for national measures to assist the families of fallen troops. Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov commended the North Korean military's "significant assistance" in operations against Ukrainian forces. South Korea's Ministry of Defence criticized the deployment as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Experts suggest this acknowledgment may have been a strategic decision by both North Korea and Russia to capitalize on military successes and bolster their international standing.
KPNorth Korea

North Korea's Lazarus Group Behind Historic $1.5 Billion Crypto Heist

In a highly sophisticated cyberattack, North Korea's Lazarus Group reportedly stole $1.5 billion in Ethereum from the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, marking one of the largest heists in history. The incident unfolded swiftly after Bybit CEO Ben Zhou conducted routine transfers on February 21, 2025, only to discover later that the funds had been redirected to numerous digital wallets, according to reports by The New York Times and the FBI. The FBI confirmed that Lazarus executed the operation through a supply chain attack on Safe{Wallet}, the provider for Bybit’s cold wallet—traditionally viewed as secure due to its offline status. Analysts have highlighted the meticulous planning and execution of this attack, showcasing Lazarus's expertise in cybercrime (Hervé Lambert, Panda Security). Following the heist, Bybit customers withdrew around $10 billion in cryptocurrency, causing a 20% drop in Bitcoin’s value, the largest since the collapse of FTX in 2022. This hack exposes the growing threat posed by state-sponsored cybercriminals as cryptocurrencies become increasingly vulnerable.
KPNorth Korea
All North Korea News ->