A return of Chinese tourists would be key to making North Korea's tourism industry lucrative because they represented more than 90% of total international tourists before the pandemic, said Lee Sangkeun, an expert at the Institute for National Security Strategy, a think tank run by South Korea's intelligence agency.
Mr Cockerell said: "Since January of 2020, the country has been closed to all international tourists, and we are glad to have finally found an opening in the Rason area, in the far north of North Korea.
Foreign tourists have visited North Korea in the past week - making them the first Western travellers to enter the country in five years.
In February 2024, North Korea accepted about 100 Russian tourists, the first foreign nationals to visit the country for sightseeing.
The latest trip indicates North Korea may be gearing up for a full resumption of its international tourism to bring in much-needed foreign currency to revive its struggling economy, experts say.
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