Contrary to Lavrov’s calls, North Korea turned out to be closed to Russian tourists

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during his visit to North Korea, gave a positive answer to journalists’ question whether he would recommend Russian tourists to relax in the DPRK. We called a travel agency that deals with North Korean destinations. And we learned that the country has been closed to Russian tourists for the third year. It won’t be possible to get there anytime soon.

“Attention! From January 21, 2020 to the present, the DPRK government has closed the country to foreign tourists in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. We are not accepting tour requests at this time!” – indicated on the travel agency website.

“They’ve closed since the pandemic and haven’t opened yet,” the travel agency employee began the conversation.

– But Lavrov recommends vacationing in the DPRK..

– This is all at the level of recommendations, but nothing concrete yet.

– Do you know when the country will be opened to tourists?

– Nobody gives any deadlines. The embassy employees do not answer anything. This is a closed country, they don’t send out newsletters. When they officially announce it, then we will start offering tours.

– Was it difficult to get there?

– No. Before the pandemic, we had great demand for North Korea. For some reason, it was mostly men who were interested. Now the list of applicants is also huge. Every day they call and ask. I don’t even understand why there is such a fuss.

Everyone liked it. Everything is organized there for tourists – guides accompany you, feed you well, and show you a beautiful picture. Another question is that this is all a theatrical performance, but naturally they won’t show you how ordinary people live there.

You will have accompanying persons, all movements are coordinated with them. You won’t even be able to leave the hotel without them.

– What if you want to take a walk in the evening unaccompanied?

“We didn’t have a situation where anyone wanted to go out on their own.” And there is nowhere to go, the streets even in Pyongyang are deserted, everything is closed. It seems like there’s not even a light on there in the evenings. You yourself will not want to walk and at the same time hide from the guide. Meaning? Why risk it? You will see everything interesting during the excursion day.

– What do foreigners like?

– People are amazed by the monumental architecture, large wide avenues. Everyone’s impressions remain positive, no matter how strange it may sound. Some travel to the DPRK several times. Apparently, they like the atmosphere a la the Soviet Union, some are nostalgic or simply enjoy the fact that they find themselves on another planet.

– What do they feed visitors?

– There are European and North Korean cuisine. You won’t remain hungry. Breakfast and dinner take place in hotels, lunch – in restaurants, where people are brought during the excursion. So you won’t have to look for where to eat.

– In the DPRK, foreigners are prohibited from visiting stores where locals go. What if you want to buy chips or water?

– I think that as part of the excursion you will be taken to some special shops. They won’t let you go where foreigners are not allowed, or they will politely stop you and say: let’s not go here. They have everything thought out in this regard.

– Are the hotels decent?

– It depends where. If we take Pyongyang, there are good hotels there. Naturally, not luxury, but a solid four, clean and tidy. In addition to Pyongyang, you can also see mountains in North Korea; the nature there is beautiful.

– There are probably worse hotels there?

– Maybe new hotels were built there during the pandemic, who knows. It is unknown how they lived these years.

– How much does such a trip cost?

– Before the coronavirus, a six-day tour cost 600 euros. But the flight is not included in the price. Previously, planes flew from Vladivostok and Beijing. But now transport links are blocked, so what and when flights will be is unknown. If we are friends with them, maybe they will let us in from Moscow.