Sign of a rapprochement between Beijing and his North Korean ally, each week, thousands of Chinese tourists go to Pyongyang. Visitors pay about 320 euros for a standard three-day stay in the capital's capital but also in the demilitarized zone in the south, which marks the border between the two Koreas.
If no official figure is available, some believe that the number of Chinese visitors has never been so important. "The tourism market in North Korea has always been dominated by Chinese tourists of course, but in recent years the numbers have been consistent, sometimes up to 2000 people a day go to Pyongyang," says Simon Cockerell , Managing Director of the Koryo Tours Travel Agency There has been a recent regulation announced to restrict the number of tourists arriving in Pyongyang to 1000. Is this coming from the government or is it a rule of thumb? National Tourism Administration - I'm not sure, but there are some concerns about too many visitors. "
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North Korea remains subject to UN sanctions, but tourism is not part of targeted activities. Beijing does not hesitate to use the sector as a diplomatic tool and as a means of pressure on an ally sometimes difficult to manage, especially in the nuclear issue.
To seal the rapprochement between the two countries, Xi Jinping will carry out a state visit to North Korea on Thursday, June 20 and Friday, June 21. A first for 14 years for a Chinese president. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un traveled to China four times last year.