{"id":2399509,"date":"2025-02-06T00:01:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T05:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-korea-to-reopen-to-tourists-after-more-than-five-years-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-06T00:02:34","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T05:02:34","slug":"north-korea-to-reopen-to-tourists-after-more-than-five-years-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-korea-to-reopen-to-tourists-after-more-than-five-years-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"North Korea to reopen to tourists after more than five years &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnorth-korea-to-reopen-to-tourists-after-more-than-five-years-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2399509&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>North Korea is tentatively reopening too tourism after closing\u2063 its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A Beijing-based travel company, Koryo Tours, is offering packages to visit Rason, \u200ca city near\u2062 the borders of China and Russia, in February 2024. The tour will include visits to local sites, and tourists will have \u2062to cross the Chinese border to reach Rason since it lacks \u2064a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">nearby international \u200bairport<\/a>. However,there are concerns\u2062 regarding the readiness of the Chinese checkpoint for incoming tourists. Notably, tourists will not be permitted to visit pyongyang, the capital city.Prior to the pandemic, North korea had welcomed many tourists, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-democrat-senator-praised-cleveland-indians-name-change-while-working-on-policy-that-would-hurt-native-americans\/\" title=\"Ohio Democrat Senator Praised Cleveland Indians\u2019 Name Change While Working On Policy That Would Hurt Native Americans\">generating meaningful revenue<\/a> for the \u2062contry. the reopening coincides with celebrations for the late Kim Jong Il&#8217;s birthday. In recent developments, President Donald\u2062 Trump has discussed his relationship with North Korea&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-lawmakers-seek-voting-reform\/\" title=\"GOP lawmakers seek voting reform\">current leader<\/a>, Kim\u200b Jong Un, mentioning the potential for North Korea to capitalize on \u2062its location and resources \u200bfor tourism and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ca-governor-breaks-his-own-covid-rules-to-eat-fancy-french-food\/\" title=\"Ca. Governor Breaks His Own COVID Rules To Eat Fancy French Food\">real estate<\/a> progress.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">North Korea to reopen to tourists after more than five years<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1978101\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"North Korea\">North Korea<\/a> is tentatively reopening its country to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"tourism\">tourism<\/a> following the closure of its borders during the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"COVID-19\">COVID-19<\/a> pandemic in 2020.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>A tour operator has begun reopening bookings to see Rason, a city that neighbors the countries of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/china\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"China\">China<\/a> and Russia, ahead of the birthday celebrations for the late Kim Jong Il, North Korea&rsquo;s former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ayatollah-iran-in-no-hurry-to-see-u-s-return-to-nuclear-deal\/\" title=\"Ayatollah: Iran in no hurry to see U.S. return to nuclear deal\">supreme leader<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based travel company, is <a href=\"https:\/\/koryogroup.com\/blog\/rason-north-korea-opens-to-tourism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"offering four nights in Rason\">offering four nights in Rason<\/a> and two nights in Yanji, a Chinese city, from Feb. 12 to 18. Some of the tourist stops will include the Sea Cucumber Breeding Farm, Paekhaksan Combined Foodstuff Processing Factory, and the Golden Triangle Bank.<\/p>\n<p>The tour will require driving across the Chinese border because the city does not have a nearby international airport. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/world\/north-korea-tourists-kim-jong-il-birthday-first-time-covid-pandemic-rcna190554\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"reportedly\">reportedly<\/a> questions about whether the Chinese checkpoint will be ready for the tours.<\/p>\n<p>Tourists will not be able to visit the capital city of Pyongyang.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pyongyang citizens pay respect to the statues of the late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill on New Years&rsquo; Day in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo\/Cha Song Ho)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On Feb. 16, North Korea had large parades and displays to celebrate the Day of the Shining Star.<\/p>\n<p>Before the pandemic, the country allowed hundreds of thousands of tourists, which provided extra revenue for the country.<\/p>\n<p>During President Donald Trump&rsquo;s first term, he made historic overtures to build a diplomatic relationship with North Korea&rsquo;s current leader King Jong Un.<\/p>\n<p>Marco Rubio, who now serves as Trump&rsquo;s secretary of state, referenced North Korea and Iran as &ldquo;rogue states&rdquo; during in a Jan. 30 interview on <em>The Megyn Kelly Show<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The North Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement that slammed Rubio&rsquo;s statements as &ldquo;coarse and nonsensical.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The hostile words and deeds of the person who is in charge of the U.S. foreign policy served as an occasion of confirming once again the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK which remains unchanged,&rdquo; the statement <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/north-korea-rebuke-marco-rubio-rogue-state-statement-2025051\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"continued\">continued<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sentosa Island, in Singapore, June 12, 2018. (AP Photo\/Evan Vucci, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During the presidential campaign, Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/3111540\/trump-north-korea-kim-jong-un-red-button-bigger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"addressed his relationship with Kim\">addressed his relationship with Kim<\/a> while talking to internet influencer Adin Ross.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This man I really get along with well,&rdquo; the president said during the August 2024 interview.<\/p>\n<p>The two leaders had met at historic summits in 2018 and 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Trump called Kim &ldquo;very smart&rdquo; and &ldquo;very strong&rdquo; during the interview with Ross.<\/p>\n<p>The real estate mogul shared that he had encouraged the North Korean leader to begin thinking of his country as a revenue generator if he were to optimize it as a potential tourist destination and for its oceanfront real estate.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He&rsquo;s right between, think of this, Russia and China on one side and South Korea on the other. I said, &lsquo;You have a great piece of real estate. You could make so much and you could have gorgeous condos going up on your shore.&rsquo; He has got a lot of ocean &hellip; a lot of oceanfront,&rdquo; Trump retold his conversation with Kim.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement of tours into North Korea in February come at the same time the president has suggested the U.S. help reinvent the Gaza Strip from a terrorist-run stronghold to &ldquo;the Riviera Of The Middle East.&rdquo; Trump&rsquo;s son-in-law and businessman Jared Kushner had also said at a Harvard University event in Feb. 2024 that &ldquo;Gaza&rsquo;s waterfront property, it could be very valuable.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1978101\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1978101\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North Korea is set to reopen to tourists after five years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2678,"featured_media":2399510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/North-Korea-1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32109,4546,24701,36137],"class_list":["post-2399509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-north-korea","tag-reopening","tag-tourism","tag-travel-news"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/North-Korea-1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2678"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2399509"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2399513,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399509\/revisions\/2399513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2399510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2399509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2399509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2399509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}