Ever wanted to visit North Korea?
Now could be your chance.
Five years after the country closed to foreign tourists due to the Covid-19 pandemic, North Korea opened to travelers back in December 2024, BBC reported.
Now, Singaporeans too will have a chance to visit the country’s Rason Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as local agencies cautiously prepare for group tours.
The capital Pyongyang remains closed, as it has been for all tourists barring Russian nationals since February 2024.
Not Pyongyang, but Rason
The Rason SEZ was set up in 1991, bordering Russia and China.
As an SEZ, it’s one of the more international-facing regions in North Korea, making it more accessible to visit and get around.
As Beijing-based tour operator Young Pioneer Tours, which organises group visits to North Korea, puts it, Rason is the “only area in North Korea where they promote something people wouldn’t usually expect from a socialist government: capitalism.”
That is to say, you can go shopping in Rason, with schools, factories, and breweries that you can visit.
That is setting aside street food, trade fairs, and even scuba diving.
You could even get your hands on a North Korean debit card. Nifty, albeit surreal.
Local tour agencies figuring things out
Some local agencies have started preparing for group tours. Some of them are bundled with tours to China as well.
A marketing representative from Hong Thai travel agency told 8world on Mar. 1:
“For the time being, we will have two packages: North Korea alone and North Korea plus China’s Northeast.
After all, it may not be as open as before, so we will make some adjustments according to the situation. At the same time, we hope to make some improvements in hotels and meals to make the overall travel experience better.”
Before the pandemic, the agency would bring hundreds of groups to North Korea every year, 8world reported.
They have also received inquiries from customers over the past two days, and are planning to re-launch tour packages in the second half of 2025.
Another travel agency, CTC Travel, told 8world that several technical issues, such as visas and flight arrangements, are still in the process of being ironed out.
Yes, Singaporeans need a visa to visit North Korea.
You also normally can only visit the country as part of a group tour, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) website.
Not without risks
A word of caution, should you wish to go, however.
MFA issued a warning to Singaporeans against travelling to North Korea back in September 2019:
“The situation in North Korea remains unpredictable. Singaporeans should avoid all non-essential travel to North Korea. Singaporeans who visit North Korea should be aware of the risks of inadvertently violating the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions and Singapore’s corresponding laws, which remain in place.”
Top photo from Canva
