North Korea may open to day-tripping tourists

SINUIJU, North Korea, May 26 (UPI) — Tourism companies say they are preparing for North Korea to allow visitors to cross from Dandong City, China, to Sinuiju, North Korea’s largest border town.

The British newspaper The Daily Telegraph said if reports by Chinese news agencies are true that the Pyongyang government will permit expanded tourism, the resort community almost impossible for Western tourists to reach will be available to visit.

Tourists from China regularly visit Sinuiju, the newspaper said.

Simon Cockerel, a tour operator in Beijing, told CNN he has been lobbying for Western access to Sinuiju for many years, adding the town has tourist infrastructure in place and is accustomed to seeing foreigners, although it is not one of North Korea’s highlights.

“It’s a pretty dull border town,” said Andrea Godfrey of the Britain’s Regent Holidays. “(It) will appeal to those who simply want to say they have been to North Korea but will not do much for those who want to get a proper picture of the country.”