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Russian tourists are currently denied many things. Sanctions as a result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine make travel to Western countries difficult. A Russian travel group therefore chose a special holiday destination: North Korea.

The approximately one hundred Russians are among the first tourists to visit the isolated country since the corona pandemic. North Korea has strictly regulated domestic tourism, there is no individual tourism and groups are provided with guardians.

On February 9, a plane from the state-owned airline Air Koryo – considered the worst airline in the world – landed from Vladivostok in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. The four-day fun cost the equivalent of around 650 francs per person, as CNN writes. The itinerary included:

Kim bronze statues

Accompanied by guides and translators, the Russian tour group first left for the must-see attraction in Pyongyang. They could marvel at the large Mansudae monument, with two extra large bronze statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

There are still about 6,000 Lenin statues in Russia. Although not as large as the bronze statues in Pyongyang, the sight of ‘great leaders’ should be familiar to Russians.

Mangyongdae Student Palace

The guards then led the tour group to the Mangyongdae Student Palace on the ramp of Heroic Youth Street. This is a public educational institution where children can practice musical instruments, learn foreign languages ​​and play sports in the afternoon. CNN quotes a Russian woman who was there:

It was probably similar to what happened on February 14, on Kim Jong Il’s birthday:

Ski fun in Masik-Ryong

The Russians were finally able to spend three full days in the only North Korean ski resort. It was opened around the turn of the year 2013/2014 and is located at an altitude of 768 to 1360 m above sea level. M.

The complex with three (in numbers: 3) ski lifts and a ‘luxury hotel’ focuses less on the poverty-stricken North Korean population than on foreign tourists.

The next Russian ski trip to the deserted slopes is already planned for March this year.