North Korea halts tourism just weeks after reopening

North Korea prevented tourists from visiting, just weeks after the first Western tourists entered the country for the first time in five years.

North Korea closed itself at the beginning of the Covid-19s in early 2020, and It started to expand the scope of restrictions in mid -2023.

It was opened for Russian visitors in 2024, but last month, Western tourists were allowed to enter Rason remotely, east of the city.

However, many tourist companies now say that flights have been canceled to the isolated country until further notice. Pyongyang did not give a reason to stop suddenly.

“I just received news from our Korean partners that Rason was closed to everyone. We will keep you aware,” said China -based KTG Tours, a North Korea tours, on Wednesday.

The leading young women and Corio tours were among the other agencies that announced the comment.

A young pioneer in a Facebook post said that those who plan in April and May must refrain from reserving flights “so that we have more information.”

On February 20, the first Western tourists began reaching Rasoun, a city from the north as a special economic zone, to experience new financial policies.

The BBC tourist organizers told the visitor’s movements more restricted by prenatal trips – they had less chances to wander the streets and talk to the locals.

Phone signals and access to the Internet were also available in the case of a hermit.

One of the tour leader said he was suspected that Rason was chosen because the area is relatively and easy to control.

Earlier this week, Koryo Tours said it accepts international requests for Marathon Pyongyang for the first time in five years. The event is scheduled to be held on April 6, but it is not clear now whether it can still be treated.

North Korea witnessed about 350,000 foreign tourists in 2019, including 90 % of the Chinese, according to media reports.