Asia Pacific Travel Confirms North Korea Open for U.S. Travelers

Walter Keats, president of Asia Pacific Travel, reported that North Korea’s state-run travel company, the Korea International Travel Company, has confirmed its decision to allow American tourists permission to visit the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) all year long, giving Americans the same visitation privileges as other nationalities.

Since 2005, American tourists have only been allowed to travel to the DPRK during the special Arirang synchronized gymnastics performance period during August and September.

As reported in Travel Pulse on Jan. 12, Keats received information in early January from the Korean government that it was considering relaxing its restrictions on American travelers. Keats told Travel Pulse he is still waiting for two more issues to be resolved in order for him to operate the kind of tour he is planning.

Keats wants the government to remove the five-day limit that has previously been in place for Americans, and he wants the government to allow Americans to travel on trains to and from China.