The status of North Korea as a pariah nation does not deter China of building tourism products with its unpredictable Northern neighbour.
While most of the world continues to isolate diplomatically and economically North Korea -officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)- China continues to cultivate diplomatic relations with one of the most autarkic countries in the world and to develop economic projects. In Beijing, China hosted the third meeting for the development of two economic zones in the DPRK.
The meeting of the joint steering committee looked at developing and managing the Rason Economic and Trade Zone and the Hwanggumphyong and Wihwa Islands. The Economic and Trade Zone is in northeastern DPRK’s city of Rason, which is adjacent to northeast China’s Jilin Province. The Hwanggumphyong and Wihwa Islands Economic Zone is near the estuary of the Yalu River, a border river that runs between the two countries.
“Both sides reached the consensus that the cooperation in developing the two economic zones has yielded impressive results and entered the stage of substantial development,” stated a press release at the meeting.
According to news agency Xinhua, the two sides have jointly compiled related plans that will contribute to new progress in establishing mechanisms, training personnel, compiling detailed plans, laws, and regulations, making customs clearance convenient, establishing telecom links, cooperating in agriculture fields, as well as building projects and developing tourism.
Companies from China and North Korea inaugurated also a new tourist route last Friday to boost economic and tourism exchanges between the two countries.
The route from Yanji, located in the Korean Autonomous Prefecture of Yanbian in northeast China’s Jilin Province, to Rason, DPRK, has been put into trial operation, according to the Yanji Tourism Administration.
“The new international route will turn a new page in trade and tourism cooperation between the two countries,” said Wang Yanbo, deputy director of the administration.
The route is jointly operated by two Chinese and two DPRK companies. Two coaches are currently being used to ferry travellers between the two cities on a daily basis from each end, and 22 more will be added during tourism peak seasons, according to Wang.
China launched its first charter flight from Jilin to DPRK in July this year and the flight has been operating on a regular basis since August, based on the growing number of tourists interested in sightseeing in DPRK. “International tourism between China and DPRK has boomed in recent years, especially in Jilin,” said Zhang Wei, deputy director of Jilin Provincial Tourism Administration.
So far, tourism to this area is exclusively from Chinese looking at doing trade – both legally and illegally- in a country which lacks many basic goods. However, North Korean tour company Koryo Tours, shows on its internet page what could be done in Rason: a circuit includes the visit of factories such as Taehung Trading Company – the largest company in Rason manufacturing seafood and mushroom wine as well as the Sinhung Cigarette factory; the Revolution Museum in Rason; Rason Port which is the only one in North Korea to be opened to foreign visitors; Pipha Island with the possibility to do a small sea cruise; unspoiled beaches along the East Sea of Korea/Sea of Japan; the top attraction is probably Rason City Market, stated by Koryo Tours as the “only chance for tourists to visit a genuine North Korean market, see what the locals buy [Editor’s note: or probably can’t buy!!!] and pick up some bargains!”
Koryo Tours explains than the beauty of visiting Ranson is by having an opportunity to discover “the general vibe of a place quite different of the capital Pyongyang and the rest of the DPRK, a unique and fascinating glimpse at an unknown life. And to go to a place that your friends will never have heard and that could be bragged out!” A way to immerge in the spirit of a true adventure.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
