North Korea has officially suspended the entry of foreign tourists to its territory, an unexpected reversal occurring shortly after the nation opened its borders to western visitors in the city of Rason. This announcement follows a period during which North Korea began to gradually re-engage with the global community after three years of stringent pandemic-related border closures that started in early 2020.

The rationale behind this decision has not been publicly explained. In light of the new restrictions, various travel agencies that cater to tourism in North Korea promptly informed their clients through social media about the travel suspension. Among these agencies, KTG Tours based in China issued a notice on their Facebook page on March 5, detailing the suspension information received from local partners. Other agencies affected include Young Pioneers and Koryo Tours, with the latter halting its acceptance of applications for the upcoming Pyongyang Marathon indefinitely.

“The announcement was made just weeks after welcoming foreign tourists, and now those planning trips for April and May are advised against booking flights to North Korea until further notice.”