Moscow Is Touting North Korea as a New Tourism Hotspot. Few Russians Are Making the Trip.

Moscow and Pyongyang are aggressively marketing North Korea as a premier vacation destination for Russians, complete with beach resorts, ski trips, and discounts for soldiers who fought in Ukraine. Yet, despite the fanfare and deepening bilateral ties, the numbers tell a starkly different story: only around 5,000 Russians visited the reclusive state in 2025, a figure that remains a rounding error in Russia's vast outbound tourism market. The gap between official rhetoric and actual traveler behavior highlights the limits of the Kremlin's pivot toward the East, even as Western borders close to Russian citizens.

A Niche Destination Despite Official Hype

The tourism push has been championed at the highest levels of the Russian government, with officials touting North Korea as an "unexpected paradise" and a "wonderful country." However, the reality on the ground is far more modest. Sergei Krivonosov, deputy head of the State Duma's Tourism Committee, confirmed that approximately 5,000 Russians made the trip in 2025, forecasting a rise to just 6,000 in 2026. These figures, while showing growth, underscore that North Korea remains a highly niche product on the Russian tourism market, according to Artur Muradyan, vice president of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia.

The enthusiasm from officials does not appear to be translating into mass bookings. The logistical challenges, high costs, and the heavily controlled nature of travel to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are significant deterrents for the average Russian traveler, who still prefers domestic resorts or more accessible destinations like Turkey and Egypt.

Deepening Ties Since the Invasion of Ukraine

The tourism initiative is inextricably linked to the geopolitical realignment that followed Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. President Vladimir Putin made his first trip to Pyongyang in June 2024 since his 2000 visit, signing a mutual defense treaty with leader Kim Jong Un. That agreement explicitly called for expanding tourism ties, signaling a strategic intent to deepen cooperation in all spheres, including people-to-people exchanges.

This diplomatic courtship has accelerated as Russia faces increasing isolation from the West. The European Union has tightened Schengen visa rules, and in November 2025, it barred most Russian citizens from receiving multiple-entry visas, effectively closing off Europe as a leisure destination for many. This has forced Russian travelers to look eastward, and the Kremlin has been eager to present North Korea as a viable alternative.

The Price of a "Delightful" Vacation

The cost of visiting North Korea is substantial, placing it out of reach for many Russians. The Moscow Times contacted one tour operator offering trips to the DPRK, which recommended two tours to Pyongyang for first-time visitors, each priced at nearly 100,000 rubles ($1,244). Notably, the operator confirmed that Russian soldiers who have fought in Ukraine receive a discount of 5,000 rubles ($62), a symbolic gesture that underscores the military dimension of the bilateral relationship.

A more "popular" itinerary costs almost twice as much, at around $1,900. This eight-day tour departs from Vladivostok and combines sightseeing in Pyongyang with a stay at the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort on North Korea's east coast. The price includes a round-trip flight, insurance, a visa, hotel accommodation, three meals a day, guide services, and transport tickets in Pyongyang. However, a deluxe room at the resort costs an additional $580 per night, a steep premium that pushes the total cost well beyond the reach of the average Russian wage earner.

Wonsan-Kalma: From Airfield to "World-Class" Resort

The centerpiece of the tourism push is the Wonsan-Kalma resort, which Kim Jong Un opened with his daughter Kim Ju Ae in June 2025, calling it a "world-class tourist and cultural center." The opening was a high-profile event, attended by Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora and Primorye Region Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, signaling the political importance Moscow places on this project.

The site's transformation is stark. As recently as a decade ago, the Kalma Peninsula near Wonsan housed a military airfield, and the area where the hotels now stand was largely empty, according to satellite images. The resort represents a significant investment by Pyongyang to attract foreign currency, with Russian tourists being the primary target audience. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited the resort in July 2025, expressing confidence that "Russian tourists will increasingly seek to come here," a statement that appears more aspirational than reflective of current demand.

The Soviet-Era Travel Experience

For those who do make the journey, the experience is a curious blend of nostalgia and strict control. Tourists fly from Vladivostok aboard Air Koryo, the North Korean national airline, whose fleet consists entirely of Soviet- and Russian-made aircraft. Russian travel blogger Anna Selyu described the experience in a video, noting, "We got our passports back with the coveted North Korean visa, and a couple of hours later we were climbing the stairs into a Soviet Il-62 built in 1979."

Upon arrival in Pyongyang, tourists are met by a Russian-speaking guide and served lunch, sometimes with tables set for them inside the capital's airport. The itinerary is tightly controlled, with tourists accompanied on all excursions by a guide, typically a North Korean who studied Russian at university. A Moscow couple who run a RuTube channel called "First Time in the DPRK" documented their travels, describing the strict oversight: "They won't let you go anywhere alone. Everywhere with an escort, always accompanied," the woman said in a video.

Expanding Tour Options and Patriotic Packages

Despite the modest visitor numbers, Russian operators are expanding their offerings. The Moscow Times found more than 40 North Korean tours offered by a single operator, with trips to destinations across the country starting at 10,000 rubles ($124) per tour. Organizers require part of the cost to be paid in U.S. dollars, a practical necessity given the sanctions regime and the limited convertibility of the North Korean won.

One of the more unusual packages, billed as a "Patriotic" tour, offers a trip to North Korea for the country's Army Day in early 2027. "Don't miss the chance to get to know North Korean culture and traditions. Join us for an unforgettable adventure!" the operator says. The itinerary includes the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, a trip to the Myohyang Mountains, the International Friendship Exhibition, the Pyongyang Metro, and an Orthodox church, offering a curated view of the country's history and ideology.

Sanctions, Isolation, and the Russian Perspective

North Korea's tourism push comes amid its prolonged international isolation. The United Nations Security Council has maintained sanctions on North Korea for years over its nuclear and missile programs. Moscow, however, has vetoed the renewal of a panel of experts tasked with monitoring those sanctions, and Russia and China have also blocked new sanctions against Pyongyang. This diplomatic cover is part of a broader strategy to undermine the Western-led sanctions regime and demonstrate that Russia is not isolated.

The Kremlin's push to promote North Korea as a tourist destination reflects its broader efforts to deepen ties with countries that have not joined Western sanctions against Moscow. Russia has already forged closer ties with China, Iran, and North Korea since the invasion of Ukraine, part of a wider strategy to demonstrate that Russia is not isolated despite the West's efforts to isolate it. For Russian travelers, however, the appeal of North Korea remains limited, particularly as Russia's own travel industry faces headwinds.

Analysis and Implications

The disconnect between official promotion and actual tourist numbers suggests that the North Korea tourism push is more about political signaling than economic reality. Analysts suggest this signals a Kremlin desire to showcase its alternative partnerships and to normalize relations with pariah states, even if the practical benefits are minimal. The presence of Russian officials at the Wonsan-Kalma opening and Lavrov's subsequent visit underscore the diplomatic weight Moscow places on this relationship, which extends far beyond tourism into military and energy cooperation.

For ordinary Russians, the high cost and logistical complexity of traveling to North Korea make it an unlikely choice for a mainstream vacation. The country's tourism industry appears likely to remain a niche for the foreseeable future, catering to a small segment of curious travelers, Soviet nostalgia buffs, and those seeking an experience unavailable anywhere else. The couple from the RuTube channel summed up the sentiment of many visitors, admitting, "We spent most of the trip being confused about whether we were in North Korea or the Soviet Union. Sometimes it felt like we were in the USSR in 1987, sometimes in 2010, and sometimes in a mix of the two."

As Russia's own airlines struggle with a shortage of Western-made aircraft due to sanctions, and flight prices rise sharply, the government has announced plans to subsidize domestic flights. The tourism industry has repeatedly asked the authorities to introduce a state subsidy program for domestic travel as well. Until such measures make travel more affordable, and until the geopolitical calculus shifts, North Korea will remain a curiosity rather than a cornerstone of Russian outbound tourism, a symbol of the Kremlin's eastern pivot that few Russians are willing to follow.

By Irina Volkov, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.