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North Korea’s unusual experiment in tourism

The normally closed, secretive country is trying to open its doors a crack to foreign tourists, particularly from China, as a way of earning hard currency.

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Nov. 6, 2011

Chinese tourists converge on the house where the late Kim Il Sung, North Korea’s “Great Leader,” was said to be born. North Korea is looking to China as a source of tourism and revenue. Many Chinese say they are fascinated by the neighboring country, which they consider beautiful and "mysterious." But after four days, numerous visitors in this maiden tour group from Harbin, in China's Heilongjiang Province, chafed at being kept away from ordinary North Koreans.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

The government’s focus, for now, is to steer tourists toward officially designated areas. This Buddhist temple, with four monks, is one of the attractions for a group of Chinese tourists from Harbin, in Northern China, who visited recently on the first organized charter flight from Harbin, in China's Heilingjiang province.is on the Mount Kumgang tourist resort, near the demilitarized zone. The park includes Buddhist temples, such this one, which was visited by the Chinese tourists. Most of the visitors owned or worked for travel agencies and took the trip to check out the possibilities.

Nov. 4, 2011

The government’s focus, for now, is to steer tourists toward officially designated areas. This Buddhist temple, with four monks, is one of the attractions for a group of Chinese tourists from Harbin, in Northern China, who visited recently on the first organized charter flight from Harbin, in China's Heilingjiang province.is on the Mount Kumgang tourist resort, near the demilitarized zone. The park includes Buddhist temples, such this one, which was visited by the Chinese tourists. Most of the visitors owned or worked for travel agencies and took the trip to check out the possibilities.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

North Korean workers cross the Yanggak Bridge over the Taedong River that runs through in Pyongyang, the country’s capital. Government guides told the tourists that mingling with ordinary people was prohibited because North Koreans would not be comfortable speaking with foreigners or having their pictures taken.

Nov. 6, 2011

North Korean workers cross the Yanggak Bridge over the Taedong River that runs through in Pyongyang, the country’s capital. Government guides told the tourists that mingling with ordinary people was prohibited because North Koreans would not be comfortable speaking with foreigners or having their pictures taken.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

The tallest and most imposing structure on Pyongyang’s skyline is the 105-story pyramid known as the Ryugyong Hotel. The hotel began as a vanity project in 1987, but construction stopped in 1992 when the Soviet Union fell and hermetic North Korea ran out of money and raw materials. It stood as a skeletal eyesore until an Egyptian company restarted work in 2008. The building, which will hold offices as well as the hotel, is being completed for ceremonies next year marking the 100th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth.

Nov. 6, 2011

The tallest and most imposing structure on Pyongyang’s skyline is the 105-story pyramid known as the Ryugyong Hotel. The hotel began as a vanity project in 1987, but construction stopped in 1992 when the Soviet Union fell and hermetic North Korea ran out of money and raw materials. It stood as a skeletal eyesore until an Egyptian company restarted work in 2008. The building, which will hold offices as well as the hotel, is being completed for ceremonies next year marking the 100th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

Murals depicting the late president, Kim Il Sung, and his son, current leader Kim Jong Il — such as this one in Sinphyong — are commonplace.

Nov. 4, 2011

Murals depicting the late president, Kim Il Sung, and his son, current leader Kim Jong Il — such as this one in Sinphyong — are commonplace.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

In Pyongyang, the group was instructed not to leave the confines of the high-rise Yanggakdo Hotel, conveniently (though not for the tourists) isolated on an island in the Taedong River. The hotel included a bookstore, and as in most bookstores in the country, almost all the books are either written by the Kim Jong Il or his father, Kim Il Sung — or they are about the two leaders, their heroism and their philosophy.

Nov. 6, 2011

In Pyongyang, the group was instructed not to leave the confines of the high-rise Yanggakdo Hotel, conveniently (though not for the tourists) isolated on an island in the Taedong River. The hotel included a bookstore, and as in most bookstores in the country, almost all the books are either written by the Kim Jong Il or his father, Kim Il Sung — or they are about the two leaders, their heroism and their philosophy.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

In Pyongyang, a city largely devoid of advertisements, the only billboards or signs visible are those extolling Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, who uses the title 'chairman of the national defense commission and secretary general of the worker's party.” The current Kim does not use the title 'president' out of deference to his late father, who, North Koreans say, is the country's only president.

Nov. 6, 2011

In Pyongyang, a city largely devoid of advertisements, the only billboards or signs visible are those extolling Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, who uses the title "chairman of the national defense commission and secretary general of the worker's party.” The current Kim does not use the title "president" out of deference to his late father, who, North Koreans say, is the country's only president.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

Chinese tourists pose for a group photos at the birth site of Kim Il Sung. Most monuments are a distance from normal street life.

Nov. 6, 2011

Chinese tourists pose for a group photos at the birth site of Kim Il Sung. Most monuments are a distance from normal street life.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

The North Korean capital as seen from an upper floor of the Yanggakdo Hotel. Tourists staying at the isolated hotel were told not to venture into Pyongyang. Some of the Chinese tourists loudly protested that they wanted to visit a local restaurant for a bowl of noodles. 'Not allowed” was the polite but firm reply from the government guides.

Nov. 6, 2011

The North Korean capital as seen from an upper floor of the Yanggakdo Hotel. Tourists staying at the isolated hotel were told not to venture into Pyongyang. Some of the Chinese tourists loudly protested that they wanted to visit a local restaurant for a bowl of noodles. "Not allowed” was the polite but firm reply from the government guides.

Keith B. Richburg / THE WASHINGTON POST

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