Direct commercial air services commence between Moscow and Pyongyang, Russia
North Korea Gradually Reopens Tourism, but International Visitors Remain Limited
As North Korea continues to ease pandemic restrictions, the country is cautiously reopening its borders to limited foreign tourism. However, the once thriving tourism sector remains largely closed to Western and Chinese tourists.
The Wonsan-Kalma beach resort, a coastal tourism hub that can accommodate nearly 20,000 people, opened to North Korean citizens in June 2025, but has yet to officially welcome foreign tourists except for a small number of Russian visitors in July. Before the pandemic, Chinese group tours made up over 90% of foreign visitors, but these tours remain stalled due to political uncertainties, including North Korea’s military ties with Russia and the lack of clear Chinese government approval.
A small number of Russian tourists have begun visiting since early 2024, but the numbers are small, with around 880 tourists in 2024. This is insufficient to restart the once modest tourism sector. North Korea’s leadership emphasizes the resort as a major achievement and a "first step" toward expanding tourism, but the regime remains cautious about reopening to Western tourists or fully resuming large-scale foreign tourism.
Meanwhile, Russia and North Korea have expanded their military ties in recent years. In July 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort, meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This visit marked a sign of continued cooperation between the two countries.
Regular flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang have also resumed in 2023 after a break due to the coronavirus pandemic. The flights, operated by unspecified carriers, are not part of the regular air link established between Moscow and Pyongyang. The location of the flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang is not specified in the article. The frequency of the reopened flights is not clear.
The resumption of flights between Vladivostok and Pyongyang is another sign of the growing ties between Russia and North Korea. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized the importance of tourism for economic improvement, and the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort is a key part of his efforts in this regard.
In summary, while North Korea is reopening some domestic tourism sites and cautiously allowing limited Russian tourists, international tourism remains very restricted with no full border reopening or return of major foreign tourist groups as of July 2025. The future of North Korea's tourism industry remains uncertain, as the country continues to navigate political and economic challenges.
References
[1] The Guardian
[2] Yonhap News Agency
[3] Reuters
While North Korea gradually reopens its tourism sector to a small number of Russian tourists, international visitors, particularly from Western and Chinese origins, remain limited due to political uncertainties. This restricted tourism is causing concern and uncertainty within the general news sphere regarding the future of North Korea's travel lifestyle, given its economic reliance on the sector.
