Russian visits to North Korea on the rise

Demand for tours to North Korea among Russian travelers has grown by 10-15% over the past year,  the Russian Union of Tourism Industry (RUST) reported.  According to Inna Mukhina, RUST expert and director of the Vladivostok-based tour operator Vostok-Intour, July set a new record with 500 tourists taking various air and rail tours.

This summer, beach destinations in Wonsan on the East Sea have been highly sought after. Tourists are frequently combining beach holidays with sightseeing in Pyongyang. Other popular itineraries include the Wonsan-Kalma resort complex, Golden Beach, direct train trips from Vladivostok, and excursions to the Heaven Lake at Mount Paektu.  

Children's tourism is also booming. The Songdowon International Children's Camp saw a 50% surge this summer, hosting over 400 Russian children per shift during its first two sessions.  

Looking ahead, winter bookings are already filling up. Russians are reserving tours for ski resorts like Masikryong and Samjiyon, New Year celebrations in the Korean style, and trips to coincide with the grand April 15 festivities marking Kim Il-sung's birthday.  

Russian tourism to North Korea jumped from around 4,000 in 2024 to over 7,000 in 2025—a 75% increase. Experts attribute this boom to the emergence of new attractions, notably the Wonsan-Kalma resort which opened in late 2025, and the launch of direct Nord Wind Airlines flights between Moscow and Pyongyang in July 2025.  

Russian Travel Digest reminds that only organized tourism is permitted in North Korea. Visitors must book through a Russian tour operator accredited by North Korean authorities and submit their visa documents at least a month in advance for mandatory approval.