"No Hostility and Interest in American Life"… Westerners' Experience Visiting North Korea

American Visitor to North Korea: "COVID-19 Fear Still Prevails"
"Rumors Say the Virus Entered via Balloons Sent from South Korea"
"Residents Show No Hostility Toward Americans"

The appearance of Justin Martel during his visit to Pyongyang in 2015. Young Pioneer Tours

North Korean tourism, which was suspended due to COVID-19 border closures, is resuming after five years, and on the 13th, employees of Western travel agencies reportedly entered North Korea for the first time since the pandemic.

On the 18th (local time), CNN reported that representatives from the Western travel agency 'Young Pioneer Tours' crossed the border from China into the Rason Special Economic Zone in North Korea. They visited the area in preparation for the full reopening of North Korean tourism.

Young Pioneer Tours explained on their website, "The purpose of this visit is to prepare everything so that North Korea can receive group tourists," adding, "We were fortunate to enter the country during one of North Korea's biggest holidays, the birthday of Kim Jong-il, the former Chairman of the National Defense Commission." The agency is currently selling a travel package to tour the Rason Special Economic Zone from the 2nd of next month for 4 nights and 5 days at 645 euros (approximately 974,000 KRW), and plans to guide tourists from Germany, France, the UK, Canada, and Australia to North Korea this week.

North Korean residents dancing to celebrate Kim Jong-il's birthday. Young Pioneer Tours

Justin Martell, an American from Young Pioneer Tours who visited North Korea this time, drew attention by sharing insights about the social atmosphere there. He told CNN, "While COVID-19 feels like a distant past to people worldwide, it is not the case in North Korea," adding, "Wearing masks and temperature checks are still routine." He also said, "Popular tourist sites within North Korea remain off-limits due to COVID-19," and mentioned rumors that the virus was introduced via balloons sent from South Korea.

Furthermore, despite being American, he said he never felt hostility from North Korean residents. Martell stated, "There were no anti-American remarks at all," and "Students I met at schools showed no interest in politics. They wanted to know about music, sports, and what life is like in America, and seemed eager to connect." He also noted that the previously strict photography regulations have become much more relaxed.

Western travel agency staff visiting North Korea. Young Pioneer Tours

Currently, North Korea has opened its doors to Russian tourists but continues to ban entry to Westerners. While foreigners can visit the Rason area, the places they can tour are limited to factories and schools. Travel programs that include visiting markets in Rason and purchasing goods using North Korean currency are still reportedly prohibited.

The U.S. Department of State imposed a travel ban to North Korea after the Otto Warmbier incident in June 2017, where Warmbier was detained in North Korea, returned in a vegetative state, and died shortly thereafter. To circumvent such restrictions, Martell acquired dual citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, which operates an investment citizenship program. CNN reported that Martell spent a six-figure sum (at least $100,000) to obtain this nationality.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.