WHAT ABOUT CHINESE TOURISTS?
Chinese authorities have yet given their citizens the green light to enter North Korea, despite earlier reports stating that a Chinese tour operator had started accepting registrations.
A spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on “activities of specific travel agencies” during a regular news conference.
Chinese nationals made up the vast majority of foreign tourists to North Korea before the pandemic. 2019 saw a record high of 350,000 Chinese visitors.
However, relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have become strained due to the Russia-Ukraine war that broke out in 2022. North Korean troops have been sent to aid Russia’s invasion, while China has been trying to project a neutral stance on the war.
Analysts said they believe Chinese tourists will bring important economic benefits to North Korea, but see several obstacles in the way.
“For the past almost two years, the relationship between China and North Korea has deteriorated … There hasn’t been any kind of positive sign to getting closer between these two countries, because still, you see North Korea and Russia, they maintain very close cooperation,” said Park Won Gon, a professor in Ehwa Womans University’s Department of North Korean Studies.
He noted that another factor is United States President Donald Trump, who was sworn into the White House last month.
“It totally depends on the relationship between the US and China. If the relationship deteriorates, China has more motivation and more reason to consider North Korea as their important asset,” Park added.
“But we have to think about (the fact) that North Korea is so different compared to 2018 and 2019. They no longer want to have a good relationship with the US and even the Western world.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/north-korea-reopens-foreign-tourists-special-economic-zone-pyongyang-closed-4966381
