Singaporeans can now visit North Korea!

It’s the passport immigration stamp I’ve been waiting my whole life for. Yes, the hermit nation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – North Korea to you and me – is open to Singapore passport holders. If you visit North Korea, you can finally trump that friend who’s been everywhere else!

But first, a bit of background. Contrary to what most people believe, North Korea has had a tourist industry for many years now; however, they completely shut themselves to the world 5 years ago amid the Covid pandemic. Russian tourists have been permitted to visit the nation since Feb 2024.

This revival marks a guarded return to international tourism and the much-needed revenue that entails.

How to visit North Korea

Tourists from Singapore can only visit North Korea as part of organised tours conducted by 10 agencies pre-approved by the North Korean government. None of these agencies are in Singapore; most are based in Russia or China and there is one in Australia.

Beijing-based Young Pioneer Tours and Koryo Tours took one batch of tourists to visit North Korea on 20 Feb. They will be taking another batch in the coming weeks.

Where can you visit in North Korea?

Unsurprisingly, tourists to North Korea are not free to roam the land but taken on guided tours, all closely monitored. Some who run afoul of the regime’s draconian rules and laws have suffered terrible fates. Our own Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travel to North Korea.

For now, tourists from Singapore and other nations will be limited to the Rason Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which borders Russia and China in the northeast.

Itineraries include visits to local breweries, language schools, taekwondo schools, and vantage points where the borders of North Korea, China and Russia converge. These tours do include interaction with locals for a structured yet immersive experience of North Korean society.

Unfortunately, the capital city of Pyongyang remains closed to foreign visitors other than Russians.

When can you visit North Korea?

North Korea reopened its borders to tourism on 20 Feb 2025 and official tours have already begun. Apparently, 3 Singaporeans have already booked their spots to visit North Korea with Young Pioneer Tours and will travel there in mid-Mar.

Should you visit North Korea?

There is an understandable allure to visiting North Korea, one of the few truly self-isolated places in the world. The reopening of its borders is a rare opportunity for Singaporeans, to explore a nation shrouded in mystery.

But there are obvious perils. One clue is that Young Pioneer Tours bills itself as taking tourists to “places your mother would rather you stay away from”.

If you do visit North Korea, please take precautions.

Political topics, criticism of the regime and attempting to access restricted areas are completely off-bounds. Photography is also regulated, and taking unauthorised photos can lead to repercussions.

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