North Korea to Host International Trade Fair, Limited to Tourists

A North Korean travel agency has announced plans to recruit tourists for the upcoming Pyongyang International Trade Fair, scheduled from October 24 to November 1, 2025. However, participation is restricted for journalists and travel content creators.

Young Pioneer Tours, based in China, stated on their website that this event offers a unique opportunity for foreign visitors to be among the first to attend the trade fair and explore Myohyangsan, a site that has been closed to Western tourists since 2020. The agency will assist with visa applications, allowing attendees to visit the capital and participate in the fair.

The Pyongyang International Trade Fair (PITF) will take place from October 27 to 31 at the Okryu Exhibition Hall, featuring over 450 booths showcasing machinery, IT, energy, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and daily necessities. Tourists will have the chance to attend both the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as visit notable sites such as the USS Pueblo, the Juche Tower, and Kim Il-sung Square. The itinerary also includes subway rides, shopping at local department stores, and exploring the latest streets in Pyongyang.

Additionally, the tour will include a visit to Myohyangsan, where participants can explore one of the few remaining Buddhist temples in North Korea, experience cave tours, and stay overnight at a luxury hotel.

However, the agency has clarified that due to guidelines from the exhibition organizers, journalists, travel content creators, and influencers are not permitted to join this tour. This decision follows a previous incident in February when North Korea briefly allowed group tourism for Western visitors, only to abruptly halt it after influencers shared sensitive information about the country on social media.

This latest initiative reflects North Korea's cautious approach to tourism, balancing the desire to attract foreign visitors with the need to control the narrative surrounding the country.