Sightseeing tours from Vladivostok, the central city of Russia's Far East, to North Korea resumed on the 9th, with participants departing for North Korea.
This is believed to be the first time North Korea has accepted foreign tourists since the spread of the new coronavirus, and the two countries are deepening cooperation not only in the military field but also in the economic field.
On the 9th, participants on a tour to North Korea departed from Vladivostok in Russia's Far East and arrived in the country.
According to the travel company that organized the tour, the number of participants was about 100, far more than originally expected, and applications were received from as far away as the capital, Moscow.
During their stay, the group plans to spend their time sightseeing and skiing in the capital, Pyongyang.
South Korean media reports that this is the first time North Korea has accepted foreign tourists since tightening border controls in 2020 as a countermeasure against the new coronavirus.
Russia and North Korea are traditionally friendly countries, but since the invasion of Ukraine, they have rapidly become closer, mainly in the military field, with North Korea reportedly providing weapons to Russia.
Last September, President Putin and General Secretary Kim Jong Un held a summit meeting and agreed to strengthen relations.
For North Korea, tourism is one of the ways to earn foreign currency that is not subject to economic sanctions by the United Nations Security Council, and the two countries are deepening cooperation not only in the military field but also in the economic field.