North Korea remains closed to almost all foreign tourists in 2026, and anyone claiming otherwise should be taken with a large pinch of salt. Here's an honest account of where things actually stand, what the recent signs do and don't mean, and what Koryo Tours knows after more than three decades in the DPRK tourism business.
When is North Korea opening to tourists...?
Over the past few years, there have been rumours, claims, counter-claims, false dawns, and all manner of snippets of gossip being bandied about online about the imminence of the DPRK's reopening to tourists.
Where do we stand right now, though, in 2026?
Koryo Tours outlines the North Korea travel situation as it stands today (June, 2026).
Who Can Travel to North Korea?
In terms of tourism to North Korea, it is still open only to Russian passport-holders, and unavailable to all others.
A History of Recent North Korea Openings
You may be thinking, but didn't North Korea already open again?
Well, you're half right!
But, also half wrong.
North Korea has seen various openings to a wider range of foreign audiences over the past couple of years.
These are outlined below;
- The brief opening of Rason to tourists in February 2025
- The Pyongyang International Marathon 2025 happening in April 2025
- The Pyongyang International Film Festival happening in October 2025
- The passenger train between China and the DPRK resuming in April 2026
- Air China flights resuming in April 2026
Is North Korea Open to Chinese Citizens?
There have been claims by some Chinese companies on more than one occasion that tourism was confirmed to open and thus bookings could be made on their trips. This, however, seemed to be based on wishful thinking rather than any solid information.
Cynics may suggest that this is a good way to harvest both contacts and even deposits... to lock in customers without the due diligence of being sure that what is on offer can be delivered.
And the Pyongyang Marathon 2026?
In the case of the Pyongyang Marathon for 2026, it was confirmed, all arranged, and then cancelled a mere month short of the event date. With no real reason ever given...
Hardly the act of a state preparing to open the doors to tourism... but at least it was truly happening.
Until it was truly cancelled!
Read more on the Pyongyang Marathon Cancellation
Will Chinese Tourism to North Korea Resume Soon?
At the time of writing, speculation has been increasing about what the result of the visit to Pyongyang by Chinese President Xi Jinping will be for tourism.
Given that, at the time of the Jan 2020 shutdown of the country, Chinese tourists made up more than 95% of the market, and that North Korea was a destination chosen by hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists annually, then maybe being reminded of the economic factors at least would motivate the DPRK to perhaps reopen to visitors from their closest neighbour and oldest ally?
However, Xi was there as President of China, not as President of the China Outbound Travel Agents Federation (assuming there is such a body), and so this doesn’t seem to have been the reason for his visit.
North Korea Tourism Today
At the time of writing, the doors remain closed, and with not much more than guesses as to why.
Inertia? A fear of diseases which affect all visitors other than Russians being spread by tourists? A fear of some kind of ‘infiltration’ by malign influences posing as tourism? Not really caring all that much? – who knows?
At Koryo Tours, we would love to say we know what is happening and when it is happening. But the truth is that nobody knows, and anyone claiming some kind of insider info should be ignored.
The decisions are made higher than anyone has connection, and with motivations and reasons considered that we may not know about at all.
Will North Korea tourism ever resume?
We do believe that tourism will resume.
After all, the infrastructure still exists, the local travel companies exist and have not been disbanded, and there is still an appetite among all the people we know in the DPRK for the industry to rise again.
When that happens, we will be ready, and more than willing, to take those who wish to be there with us back to North Korea, and of course will offer the best tours available, unmatched by any others, as we have done since 1993.
How Can I Get Updates on North Korea Tourism?
This opening is something many have waited a long time for. Several years in many cases. And when there is a chance, a bit of reliable news, a deadline, or a sudden opening, you will hear it from us…
And this is how -
Join our newsletter mailing list
We will email you updates and news.
Join our WhatsApp Community
Here we have various North Korea - focused groups, including groups on the Pyongyang Marathon and border opening updates. We post updates, take questions, and encourage discussion - all about travel to North Korea.
Follow our social media channels
We look forward to updating you soon, and with good news too!
Koryo Tours
Experts
in North Korea Travel
Since 1993
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Simon Cockerell
Simon has been Koryo’s General Manager since 2002. He has travelled to North Korea more than 175 times and has probably been to the country more than any other Westerner. He is a respected speaker on the country and appears regularly in international media. He is also a tour specialist in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and the Russian Far East where he has personally designed and led multiple tours over the years.