Is North Korea Open For Tourism? FAQ as of March 2025

North Korea has remained largely closed to foreign travellers now for over five years. Since January 2020, when it became the first country to close its borders in response to the Covid pandemic, North Korea has maintained strict border controls that continue into 2025.

During this extended closure, the tourism industry has experienced no shortage of speculation regarding reopening. This includes a false start in 2024 and, most recently, a brief opening for tourists of all eligible nationalities that generated renewed optimism.

However, this evolving coverage in mainstream media has led to public confusion about the current status of travel to North Korea.

In this FAQ, we clarify the situation with the most current information, as at March 19, 2025.

Can you travel to North Korea as a tourist now?

As of March 19, 2025, only Russian passport holders are permitted to visit North Korea as tourists. This has been a policy in effect since February 2024.

North Korea tourism visas are not being issued to all other nationalities. Tourism visas are required to visit everywhere in North Korea, with the exception of the Rason Special Economic Zone (SEZ), which requires a separate permit.

I’ve seen recent news reports of tourists in North Korea. How is this possible?

These travellers visited the Rason Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in North Korea’s remote northeast, entering by land from China via the Quanhe – Wonjong border crossing.

On February 20, 2025, the Rason SEZ briefly reopened to tourists of all eligible nationalities, becoming the first destination in North Korea to do so since 2020. This opening was strictly limited to the bounds of Rason SEZ, and travellers were unable to visit other parts of North Korea.

However, on March 5, 2025, tourism to Rason SEZ was suspended with immediate notice. No reason has been provided by authorities, and the duration of this suspension remains indefinite.

What about the upcoming Pyongyang Marathon? I heard tourists can attend.

A special sporting delegation is being arranged for the 2025 Pyongyang Marathon scheduled for April through direct invitation from the DPRK Sports Ministry. This is not arranged through tourism channels, amateur runners may join this delegation but will be participating as invited athletes on special visas, not as tourists.

General travel to Pyongyang, including for tourism, remains suspended at this time.

Why am I seeing recent North Korea footage from tourists on social media?

Recent footage from North Korea on social media may be coming from several sources, such as:

• Visitors to Rason SEZ: Tourists who visited during the brief reopening period between February 20 and March 5, 2025

• Russian tourists: The only nationality currently permitted for regular tourism since February 2024. Up to 2,000 Russian tourists are believed to have visited North Korea during 2024.

• Chinese exchange students: Study abroad exchange programs for Chinese students resumed in Pyongyang in May 2024.

• Official delegations: Visitors which have been invited by relevant authorities on delegation visas, such as the DPRK Education, Commerce or Sports Ministries.

• Past content: Photos or video that could have been taken before the border closure in January 2020 that are only now being shared online.

When will North Korea reopen to tourists of all nationalities?

This remains uncertain. No official announcement has been made by North Korean authorities, and there’s no insider information we are withholding.

North Korea is a country that operates on its own timeline, and for its own reasons. Patience is necessary, and obfuscation of information is typical.

If we zoom out, there has been significant movement in recent months:

• February last year, Russian tourists were permitted back to North Korea.
• That August, a December opening for all nationalities was proposed for Samjiyon but did not eventuate.
• In February, Rason SEZ was opened to all nationalities but was subsequently closed.
• In April, foreign amateur runners have been invited to the Pyongyang Marathon for the first time in six years.
• In June, the Wonsan-Kalma Resort, the largest tourism development in North Korea’s history, is set to be officially inaugurated.

These developments suggest North Korea may be at least reassessing its stance on international tourism, which we consider a breakthrough after years of pandemic-related isolation. However, we don’t interpret these events as direct signals of an imminent reopening for all tourism.

Will all destinations in North Korea that were previously visitable reopen again?

We have been advised of changes to North Korea itineraries. Whether these changes remain in effect when tourism resumes for all nationalities is unclear.

For the immediate future, tourism visits to border areas with South Korea will not be possible, including the city of Kaesong, the Demilitarized Zone, the Concrete Wall, and the Mt. Kumgang region. In Pyongyang, the Arch of Reunification has been removed, and the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun is currently off-limits.

However, there are exciting additions. The Samjiyon area, including Mt. Paektu, which is one of the most scenic and ideologically important sites in North Korea, will have improved accessibility by land border and scheduled flights. Previously, this area was only reachable by costly charter flights.

On the east coast, the Wonsan-Kalma Resort, an enormous beach holiday zone with at least 17 hotels, is scheduled to open in June. The Yangdok Hot Spring Resort, open in 2019 but restricted from foreign visitors, could also open to tourists in the future.

In Pyongyang, many newly built areas such as Hwasong Street will be open to visit. South of Pyongyang, the renovated Sinchon Museum of American War Atrocities is permitting visits again after being restricted since 2018. The Mt. Jongbang area has also seen an upgrade of facilities and is encouraging visitors.

We’ll learn the full extent of these changes as tourism gradually resumes.

When North Korea reopens, who will be eligible to visit?

Most nationalities are eligible to visit North Korea, with these exceptions:

• South Korean passport holders: Require permission from the relevant authority in both South Korea and North Korea to visit, which is not granted for tourism purposes.

• United States passport holders: Need special validation to visit North Korea from the U.S. Department of State, which is not granted for tourism purposes.

• Malaysian passport holders: Subject to a travel ban to North Korea imposed by the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

North Korea also does not permit semi-professional/professional photographers or journalists to visit on tourist visas without permission.

Are you accepting bookings for future tours?

We are not currently accepting formal bookings for upcoming tours, as departures cannot be confirmed. Essential tourism services such as visas, flights and hotels cannot be reserved yet for tourism, and deposits are not necessary.

Uri Tours is prepared to operate tours on short notice once the border reopens. If you wish to register your interest without obligation, please contact us.

Filed under: uritours | March 19, 2025