For the first time in five years, North Korea has allowed foreign tourists to visit. Experts believe this is not just about tourism but a way to bring money into the country’s struggling economy.

A group of 13 tourists from countries like the UK, Canada, France, and Germany visited North Korea's Rason Special Economic Zone. Their trip, organized by a Beijing-based travel agency, included visits to schools, factories, and statues of North Korean leaders. This was the first group of Western tourists since North Korea closed its borders in early 2020 due to COVID-19.

But this is not the first time North Korea has allowed visitors. Since early 2024, nearly 880 Russian tourists have entered the country. Experts believe this shows that North Korea and Russia are becoming closer, especially as North Korea has been helping Russia with weapons and troops in the war against Ukraine.

Surprisingly, China, North Korea's biggest trading partner, has not yet restarted tourism. This suggests that relations between the two countries may not be as strong as before.

While North Korea's reopening may seem like a positive step, many believe it is mainly a way to earn foreign money. Will this bring real change to North Korea, or is it just a short-term plan? Only time will tell.