A group of Russians is set to become the first known tourists allowed into North Korea since an anti-epidemic border lockdown began in 2020.

A post by Russian provincial authorities and a Western tour guide confirmed the news today. Earlier, the Russian state-run Tass news agency, published the report on January 10.

Why has entry into North Korea been strictly limited since 2020?

Access to North Korea has been sternly restricted since the country shut down its borders under the leadership of its leader Kim Jong Un at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has yet to fully reopen to foreigners.

Moreover, as reported by Nk news, a recent defector’s testimony revealed that North Korea even executed citizens for violating the COVID-19 quarantine rules during the pandemic.

In recent times, concerns have also been identified by Human Rights Watch, which stated in its World Report 2024 that the North Korean government is exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to implement a “shoot on sight” order on its northern border, restricting movement and maintaining trade.

Everything is set for the trip to North Korea

North Korea announced last year that it would begin allowing citizens to enter. Those who were banned from the country for nearly four years due to pandemic border controls.

Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako led a regional delegation to North Korea in December, during which he met with top officials to discuss cooperation projects and visited the Masikryong Ski Resort.

The upcoming four-day trip by the Russian group, promoted by a Vladivostok-based agency, was organized when the governor of Russia’s Primorsky Krai region, bordering North Korea, paid a visit to Pyongyang for talks  in December on boosting economic ties as part of a flurry of bilateral exchanges.

Authorities in the Russian Far East have started advertising a travel package for residents to visit North Korea from early next month.

The tour will depart on Feb. 9 and include stops in Pyongyang and a ski resort, according to an online itinerary.

Russian visit under special circumstances

Simon Cockerell, general manager at Beijing-based Koryo Tours, which is not involved in the trip, told (to reuters) that his partners in North Korea had confirmed the Russian visit is going ahead under special circumstances.

“It is a good sign, but I would hesitate to say it necessarily will lead to a broader opening due to the special circumstances for this one trip,” he said. “But given that no tourists have been for four-plus years, any tourism trip can be viewed as a positive step forward.”

International Interests

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and met for a summit in eastern Russia in September, where they pledged to strengthen cooperation on the economic, political and military fronts despite international sanctions.

Cooperation between the two countries has appeared to largely focus on arms trade for Russia’s war effort, but the two sides have also explored ways to increase economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.

The Primorsky Krai governor proposed sending Russian schoolchildren to North Korean summer camps in September, and Russia’s natural resources minister said in November that the two sides are exploring academic exchanges, sports cooperation and joint exploration of rare earth metals.

Acording to an estimation by NK News, The year before the pandemic began, North Korea saw a surge of Chinese tourists who may have provided the cash-strapped country with up to $175 million in extra revenue in 2019.

However, Tourism is largely unaffected by United Nations Security Council resolutions that restrict business with North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs