Kim Jong-un's North Korea's tourism policy and its implications  

CHOI Eun-ju 

(ej0717@sejong.org) 

Research Fellow, 

The Sejong Institute

Executive Summary

■ Questions raised

○ Amid international economic sanctions, North Korea may promote international economic activities that do not violate sanctions against North Korea with its interest in tourism

○ Since the Kim Jong-un administration, the government has been promoting policies to revitalize the tourism industry and constructing infrastructure to attract overseas tourists.

○ In order to resume inter-Korean exchange projects through tourism, it is necessary to accurately understand North Korea's tourism policy

■ Changes in the North Korean authorities' perception of tourism

○ All North Korean administrations had recognized the need for tourism, but the Kim Jong-un administration first introduced a full-fledged policy

○ Development and revitalization of tourism, which has been promoted since the beginning of the Kim Jong-un administration, is the main policy of implementing development strategies that promote expansion and development of foreign economic relations

■ Characteristics of the tourism industry during the Kim Jong-un era

○ It analyzes the global trend of tourism, such as the trend of the world tourism market, tourism development policies, and achievements of other countries and applies to create North Korean tourism policies

○ Tourism is centered on attracting overseas tourists, but it encourages North Koreans to visit tourist areas and entertainment facilities.

○ The purpose of tourism is to economically develop and also to promote the existing system

○ There will be designated tourist development zones throughout North Korea to attract overseas investment and will be built by North Korea to promote construction projects

■Status of North Korea's tourism industry

○ Since the Kim Jong-un administration, many new travel agencies have been established to attract overseas tourists, deepening competition in the tourism industry.

○ It will expand overseas travel agencies, develop tourism products, and strengthen overseas marketing to attract tourists from various countries through international travel agencies

○ It will develop infrastructure to revitalize the tourism industry and promote the establishment and reorganization of educational institutions to train related experts

○ Amid sanctions against North Korea, the number of overseas tourists visiting North Korea has increased to an all-time high of 260,000 to 300,000 in 2019, which is the result of the expansion of tourism exchanges between North Korea and China since 2018.

○ Tourism still accounts for a small share of the North Korean economy, and foreign tourism has been suspended since January 2020, when the COVID-19 outbreak started, until now—October 2021.

 ■ Possibility of development of tourism policy in North Korea

○ Amid the COVID-19 situation, the construction of tourist areas is continuing, and the comprehensive development plan of the Mt. Geumgang tourism area is expected to be announced at the 8th convention of the Workers' Party of Korea

○ North Korea's tourism policy is changing in the direction of increasing the possibility of cooperation with the international community, but it can be realized only if foreign relations are improved.

○ Amid sanctions against North Korea, the number of overseas tourists visiting North Korea has increased to an all-time high of 260,000 to 300,000 in 2019, which is the result of the expansion of tourism exchanges between North Korea and China since 2018.

○ Although tourism exchanges between North Korea and China have been successful despite sanctions against North Korea, it is necessary for North Korea to develop real estate investment, comprehensive development policies and develop management strategies and become internationally competitive.

※ Translator’s  note:  This  is  a  third  party’s  unofficial  translation  of  the  original  paper which  was  written  in  Korean.  All  references  should  be  made  to  the  original  paper. 

※ This  article  is  written  based  on  the  author’s  personal  opinions  and  does  not  reflect  the views  of  the  Sejong  Institute.