HONG KONG – North Korea once again closed its borders and halted foreign tourism weeks after the secret state welcomed Western visitors for the first time in five years.
North Korea sealed its borders in early 2020 at the start of the 2020 pandemic and gradually lifted restrictions in mid-2023.
The first tourists were a group from Russia and entered the country in February 2024, while the first international visitors from other countries, including the UK, Canada, France and Germany, arrived in North Korea for the first time last month.
Visits from the Western Group were limited to Layson, a remote northeastern city that the North Korean government designated a special economic zone. During their trip, they visited the factories, shops and statues of the late North Korean leader.
Unlike the Russians, they were not allowed to visit the capital, Pyongyang.
The tour operator said on Wednesday that travel to North Korea would not be possible until further notice. It was unclear why North Korea was closed again by foreign visitors and how long the suspension would last.
“We are informed that Layson is temporarily closed,” Beijing-based tour operator Corio Tours said in a statement Wednesday. “That’s an unprecedented situation.”
Other travel agents organizing travel in North Korea made similar announcements.
“We recommend booking planned tours for April and April,” China-based Young Pioneer Tour said in a Facebook post, adding that refunds for tours cancelled due to sudden changes are available.
