North Korea to begin admitting foreign tourists (again)

For the first time in five years, the isolated dictatorship is inviting large groups to visit the city of Samjiyon — and possibly beyond

Photo collage of snowy North Korean mountain slopes and skiers, with a border guard tower in the foreground
There will soon be limited tourism opportunities in North Korea
(Image credit: Illustration by Julia Wytrazek / Getty Images)

Disney World? A Viking cruise down the Danube? A drive from coast to coast with stops at every roadside attraction? When getting out of the house and going on vacation, the options are virtually limitless. Virtually, but not absolutely — particularly for adventurous travelers interested in visiting one of the most isolated countries on Earth, North Korea. The country closed its borders entirely five years ago during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

That may be about to change.

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Rafi Schwartz, The Week US

Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.