International tourism to Samjiyon and likely the rest of North Korea will resume in December after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Beijing-based tour agency said Wednesday.

Koryo Tours, which specializes in North Korea tours, said on its website it received confirmation of the plan from its “local partner.”

“Having waited for over four years to make this announcement, Koryo Tours is very excited for the opening of North Korean tourism once again,” the agency said.

Samjiyon, a northern city near Mount Paektu, is a tourist spot that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited last month to discuss major development projects there.

North Korea partially reopened its borders last year to accept several groups of Russian tourists.

Observers have said the country appears to be developing its tourism industry in a bid to earn much-needed foreign currency amid international sanctions.

Source: Yonhap News Agency