North Korea bars Western influencers from joining trade fair tour
Diplomatically isolated North Korea has welcomed sporadic groups of international visitors in recent months, including hundreds of foreign athletes in April for the first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years.
Travel agency Young Pioneer Tours (YPT) announced Saturday that it would take a group of foreign tourists on a trip to the authoritarian state from October 24 to November 1.
But the tour would not be open to journalists, travel content creators or influencers, the company said on its website.
YPT co-founder Rowan Beard told AFP the curbs on creators were 'a specific request from the North Korean side'.
'We anticipate that once the country officially reopens, there may be stricter scrutiny or limitations on influencers and YouTubers joining tours,' Beard said.
The company had 'no visibility' on when Pyongyang would restart official media delegations, he added.
Several online influencers have shared slickly produced videos from inside North Korea in recent months.
Priced at 3,995 euros ($4,704), the YPT tour will depart from the Chinese capital Beijing and take in the Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, North Korea's biggest international business exhibition.
Participants will have a 'unique chance' to stroll through over 450 trade booths exhibiting machinery, IT, energy, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and household items, YPT said.
The company added that the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce would 'hold a VIP presentation for us for an in-depth overview and insights into the (North Korean) economy'.
The itinerary also includes major sights in Pyongyang as well as the first Western visit in over five years to Mount Myohyang -- a mystical peak boasting a museum of lavish gifts presented to former North Korean leaders.
China has historically been the biggest diplomatic, economic and political backer of North Korea, which remains under crippling international sanctions.
Chinese people used to make up the bulk of foreign tourists and business visitors to the isolated nuclear nation before it sealed its borders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But numbers have not rebounded despite Pyongyang's post-pandemic reopening, a trend that some analysts have attributed to Beijing's anger at North Korea's explicit support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Documentary shines light on Saudi Arabia's progress, development
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's transformation toward its Vision 2030 goals has been documented in a new film by the Ministry of Media. Launched by the ministry's Konoz initiative, 'The Destination' highlights the progress made in the political, economic, medical, sporting, cultural, media and artistic fields. Its title reflects the Kingdom's path toward becoming a global destination for tourism and investment. Konoz CEO Abdullah Al-Ahmari credited megaprojects and upcoming events such as the AFC Asian Cup 2027, Expo Riyadh 2030 and FIFA World Cup 2034. 'The Destination' includes interviews with key figures from various fields as well as testimonies, quotes and historical records. It is part of a series of films produced by Konoz in cooperation with almost 90 organizations and more than 2,600 individuals. 'The Konoz initiative aims to document the Kingdom's achievements through creative productions,' he said, describing the country as a 'model admired by the world.' The film reflected the progress being made on the ground and highlighted the initiative's focus on Saudi talent in shaping the Kingdom's future, he said. 'The Destination' includes interviews with key figures from various fields as well as testimonies, quotes and historical records. It is part of a series of films produced by Konoz in cooperation with almost 90 organizations and more than 2,600 individuals. The Konoz initiative is part of the Human Capacity Development Program under Vision 2030. Its goal is to promote Saudi Arabian culture around the world by highlighting the contributions and success stories of its citizens.
Al Arabiya
5 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump To Put 25% Tariffs On Japan And South Korea
President Donald Trump on Monday placed a 25 percent tax on goods imported from Japan and South Korea, citing persistent trade imbalances with the two crucial US allies in Asia. Trump provided notice of the tariffs to begin on August 1 by posting letters on Truth Social that were addressed to the leaders of both countries. The letters warned both countries not to retaliate by increasing their own import taxes, or else the Trump administration would further increase tariffs. 'If for any reason you decide to raise your tariffs, then whatever the number you choose to raise them by will be added onto the 25 percent that we charge,' Trump wrote in the letters to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. The letters were not the final word from Trump on tariffs so much as another episode in a global economic drama in which the US president has placed himself at the center. Trump has declared an economic emergency to unilaterally impose the taxes, suggesting they are remedies for past trade deficits, even though many US consumers have come to value autos, electronics, and other goods from Japan and South Korea. But it's unclear what he gains strategically against China–another stated reason for the tariffs–by challenging two crucial partners in Asia who could counter China's economic heft. 'These tariffs may be modified upward or downward depending on our relationship with your country,' Trump wrote in both letters. Because the new tariff rates go into effect in roughly three weeks, Trump is setting up a period of possibly tempestuous talks among the US and its trade partners to reach new frameworks. Trump initially sparked hysteria in the financial markets by announcing tariff rates on dozens of countries, including 24 percent on Japan and 25 percent on South Korea. In order to calm the markets, Trump unveiled a 90-day negotiating period during which goods from most countries were taxed at a baseline 10 percent. The 90-day negotiating period technically ends before Wednesday, even as multiple administration officials and Trump himself suggested the three-week period before implementation is akin to overtime for additional talks. Trump is relying on tariff revenues to help offset the tax cuts he signed into law on July 4, a move that could shift a greater share of the federal tax burden onto the middle class and poor, as importers would pass along much of the cost of the tariffs. His trade framework with Vietnam is clearly designed to box out China from routing its America-bound goods through that country, while the quotas in the UK framework would spare that nation from the higher tariff rates being charged on steel, aluminum, and autos. The US ran a $69.4 billion trade imbalance in goods with Japan in 2024 and a $66 billion imbalance with South Korea, according to the Census Bureau.
Arab News
10 hours ago
- Arab News
GCC, Japan advance free trade talks as officials meet in Tokyo
RIYADH: Negotiations over a free trade agreement between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Japan advanced further this week as officials from both sides convened in Tokyo to review progress and explore ways to accelerate discussions. The meeting, held between GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi and Japan's Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Kato Akiyoshi, focused on the strategic potential of the proposed accord and recent developments in the negotiation process, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The second round of negotiations for the agreement had concluded in Tokyo in early June, covering a wide range of issues including goods, technical barriers, terms of services, financial and telecommunications services, and intellectual property. A government delegation led by the General Authority for Foreign Trade took part in those discussions, reviewing proposals aimed at strengthening trade relations, identifying areas for cooperation, and fostering new partnerships. At this week's meeting, both sides reiterated that a free trade agreement would represent a pivotal step toward expanding trade flows, enhancing economic links, and establishing a framework for long-term cooperation. 'Al-Budaiwi reviewed a number of economic indicators and statistics for the GCC countries, noting that the GCC countries' distinguished economic performance, and the sustainable growth and development they are witnessing in various sectors, have contributed to strengthening their position regionally and internationally,' SPA's report stated. The officials stated that the accord could open broader avenues for exchange and contribute to a sustainable economic partnership serving shared interests.
