North Korea’s Tourism Rollercoaster: Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Well, that was fast.

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, just weeks after rolling out the red carpet (or at least a mildly dusted-off welcome mat) for its first Western tourists in five years, North Korea has slammed the doors shut again. If you blinked, you missed it—because the Hermit Kingdom’s latest venture into hospitality has officially ended before it even began.

Tourism, North Korea-Style: A Wild Ride

After sealing itself off from the world in 2020—because even dictatorships have to take Covid seriously—North Korea tentatively reopened its gates in 2023. First, they let in a small group of Russian tourists (because nothing says “thriving economy” like inviting your best arms-buying buddy over for a vacation).

Then, just last month, a handful of brave Westerners from Britain, Canada, France, and Germany got the chance to experience the thrill of visiting Rason, a remote economic zone known for… well, being remote.

What were they allowed to see? Factories, shops, and statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Talk about an action-packed itinerary.

But Pyongyang? Absolutely not. The capital remained off-limits—because nothing says confidence like carefully controlling exactly what visitors can and cannot witness.

Closed for Business (Again)

Just when you thought the floodgates were opening, North Korea pulled its signature move—cutting off tourism with no warning, no explanation, and no estimated reopening date. Tour operators like Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours were left scrambling, telling would-be travelers to hold off on booking flights (as if flights to North Korea were just sitting on Expedia with a “free cancellation” policy).

According to Koryo Tours:

“We have been informed that Rason is temporarily CLOSED. It’s an unprecedented situation.”

Translation? Even the folks who specialize in getting people into North Korea have no clue what’s happening. Classic.

Why the Sudden U-Turn?

Good question! No official reason has been given, but let’s take a few wild guesses:

1. Someone sneezed too close to Kim Jong Un. (And now they’ve been “relocated” for safety reasons.)
2. A Western tourist asked too many questions about why the economy runs on rationed rice and glorified IOUs.
3. North Korea remembered it doesn’t actually like visitors.
4. It was all just an experiment. (Kind of like that time they tested a credit card system in Rason.)

Whatever the reason, North Korea remains as predictable as a broken compass.

Meanwhile, in Russian-North Korean Relations…

While Western tourists are being uninvited, Russian visitors are multiplying—because nothing says “warm friendship” like sending weapons and troops to support Putin’s war in Ukraine. Almost 900 Russian tourists have reportedly visited this year, presumably getting the VIP treatment (which probably means slightly better propaganda posters in their hotel rooms).

And let’s not forget: before the pandemic, Chinese tourists pumped $175 million a year into the North Korean economy. If there’s one thing Pyongyang loves more than statues of its leaders, it’s hard currency—so shutting out potential revenue makes even less sense than usual.

The Bottom Line? If You Want a Vacation, Try Literally Anywhere Else

If you were excited about visiting North Korea, well… better luck next time. Or never. Because let’s be honest—this whole now-you-can-visit, now-you-can’t game is getting old.

Meanwhile, if you really want an exclusive travel experience, just book a last-minute flight to literally any other dictatorship that doesn’t shut its borders every three weeks.

#TourismFail ,#NorthKoreaLogic, #WhereDidAllTheTouristsGo,