North Korea has unexpectedly suspended international travel to Rason, a city near its border with China, after briefly reopening the area to tourism. This reversal comes just weeks after Western tour operators had begun sending small numbers of foreign visitors to the northeastern city, following approval from North Korean authorities.
Since early 2020, North Korea has been isolated from international tourism in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the country has bolstered its defenses along its northern border to discourage illegal crossings, especially from China. However, in recent weeks, some travel agencies were granted permission to send tourists to Rason, North Korea’s first special economic zone, located near China and Russia.
On March 5, 2025, several travel agencies, including Young Pioneer Tours, Koryo Tours, and Spain-based KTG, confirmed that tours to Rason had been abruptly paused. The reasons for the suspension remain unclear, and no specific timeline has been provided for when travel to the city will resume.
Rason, which has a separate visa regime, was a testing ground for North Korea’s economic policies, and before the pandemic, it was a popular destination for Chinese tourists. While the majority of foreign visitors to North Korea were from China, a handful of US tourists also visited before Washington imposed a travel ban following the tragic case of Otto Warmbier in 2017.
Despite the suspension of tourism to Rason, North Korea has continued to welcome some international trade and official delegations. Additionally, in 2024, Russian tourists were allowed to visit North Korea for the first time since the pandemic began.
As of now, the reason for the suspension of Rason tours is unclear, and it remains uncertain how long the pause will last.
