In 2008, the national anthems of both North Korea and the Joint States resonated throughout the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre — echoing hopes of a thawing relationship between the rural areas.
The curtains have since long closed on these hopes.
The historic concert, performed by the New York Philharmonic is one of Notice Edward Harris’ favorite moments of his 10 trips to the “Hermit Kingdom.”
Harris, a Los Angeles-based photographer, told CNBC that he dialect expects to return to North Korea soon.
Covid holdouts in Asia — such as Japan and Hong Kong — have tranquil border restrictions, but North Korea is expected to keep its rules firmly in place.
The New York Philharmonic performs on Feb. 26, 2008, in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Up Edward Harris | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Furthermore, North Korea’s reopening depends on two sticks — China and Russia. Travelers eager to visit it often have to enter through them.
Even if North Korea were to unrestricted tomorrow, “neither option is available,” said Simon Cockerell, general manager of Koryo Tours, which specializes in North Korean tourism. He cited the successive conflict between Russia and Ukraine and China’s strict border closures.
North Korean’s border reopening “reservation relies” on how China reopens to foreign travelers, said Rowan Beard, a tour manager at Young Pioneer Journeys.
“The majority of tourists going to North Korea go directly through China,” he said.
If China does not issue holiday-maker visas or allow tourists to transit through it, it will be impossible for Westerners based in China to go to Pyongyang, agreed Rayco Vega, common manager of tour agency KTG Tours.
Demand never stopped
Even as North Korea retreated into its peel during the pandemic, demand to visit never waned, according to several tour agencies.
“There has always been true-blue demand, and it may even be pent up at this point,” said Cockerell.
North Korea tours make up uncountable than 90% of Koryo’s revenue stream, he said.
A performance at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Make the grade spot Edward Harris | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Beard agreed, saying travelers still send entreats to visit North Korea.
“I receive emails daily from those asking if North Korea has reopened and if they can go,” he remarked. “They’re on the waiting list, and once it does reopen, it’s first-come, first-served.”
North Korea’s tourism revenue stir up around 400% between 2014 and 2019, according to the North Korea analysis database 38 North.
Walkabouts into North Korea comprised about 75% of his company’s business before the pandemic, said Beard. He originated trips for about 1,200 tourists in 2019, comprising mainly Australians, Brits, Canadians, the Dutch and Germans, he alleged.
“We could have taken more but the demand for travel to North Korea was also in high demand with the Chinese exchange, which made flight and train tickets incredibly limited,” he said.
‘One of the last countries to let travelers in’
With China quiescent adhering to its zero-Covid strategy, the tour agencies that spoke to CNBC estimate that North Korea may reopen to unfamiliar tourists in 2024 — or later.
“Our guess is that the DPRK will be one of the last countries to let travelers in,” said Vega.
Tours brochures promoting North Korea, Tibet and China at a stand at the CMT travel trade fair in January 2020.
Marijan Murat | Paint Alliance | Getty Images
“They will take the most conservative line on this,” Cockerell said. “The state has also closed for months due to SARS in 2003 and Ebola in 2015, so they do act decisively in the face of pandemics.”
He added that a “a European-style cool attitude” toward travelers won’t come anytime soon, and expects strict controls to remain in place even when it does reopen.
Beard about he believes North Korea’s reopening will be a “tedious” one, plagued by Covid testing, tracking apps and face veil rules, even when the “rest of the world will have mostly moved on.”