N.Korea Goes All out to Attract Tourism

Published on 2020/01/19 | Source

North Koreans board a train to a new hot springs resort in Yangdok, South Pyongan Province at a railway station in Pyongyang, in this grab from the [North] Korean Central Television on Friday.

North Korea is going all out to mitigate international sanctions through tourism as it opens major resorts for the season with grand fanfare.

The North opened Masikryong Ski Resort in Kangwon Province last Wednesday to coincide with leader Kim Jong-un's birthday. The resort, one of Kim's pet projects, was built in 2013.

The following day, it also opened the doors of a brand-new hot springs and ski resort in Yangdok, South Pyongan Province after construction was completed just last month, while launching train services to the resort from Pyongyang.

The North has been bent on pursuing as many tourism projects across the nation as it can to lure foreign visitors and earn hard currency.