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DPRK Rason Special Economic Zone Reopening to Tourism ｜ No News Regarding Pyongyang Yet
January 16, 2025

North Korea to Re-open!

Rason Special Economic Zone

Hello we hope that this email finds you well!

We were notified by our Korean partners earlier today that

Rason, the Special Economic Zone located in the far northeast of the DPRK, is to re-open to tourism!

We have confirmed prices for our Rason tours, but are waiting final itineraries. Please bear with us just a little longer! After all, what's a few days compared to 5 looong years😊
Orphanage in Rason
While you wait for us to publish our programs, you may want to read more about this fascinating, remote corner of the DPRK.
Seal watching, Pipha Isle, Rason

What Makes Rason Special?

Well, it is a Special Economic Zone, bordering China's Korean Autonomous Prefecture of Yanbian in Jilin province and Russia. Known for its “economic experiments”, Rason has things you won’t see in other parts of the DPRK; huge markets accessible to foreigners, banks where foreigners can open accounts, casinos, etc.
It is also the first place in the DPRK where mobile phones could be used.

How do you travel to Rason?

The primary route to Rason is through Yanbian , in Jilin Province, northeast China. Most visitors travel to Yanji and then drive to the border from there.
Yanji, China

Can I go from Pyongyang to Rason instead?

Well, in theory and once Pyongyang is open to tourism, yes. There is, or was before Covid, a train running twice a month between Pyongyang and Rason. We were one of the first to take this train, back in 2017.

Click on the picture above to read about our train adventure from Pyongyang to Rason!

Several factories can be visited in Rason

However, in practice, you have to enter and exit Rason via Jilin province or, if routes are opened, Russia. The train is over 30 hours long, an incredible experience, but there can also be departure delays, meaning that travellers may have to wait an extra day or two in Pyongyang for the train to leave.

Rajin Port

Is the rest of the DPRK open to travellers?

So far, there are no news regarding the rest of the country or Pyongyang. Back in 2015, when the country had been closed for about 6 months, we had foreign friends actually living in Rason who were able to go back just before the rest of the country re-opened, so who knows?

I want to book my place now!

We are not accepting any bookings just yet. Please follow us on Facebook these coming days as we will post any news there first.

Thank you!
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