VLADIVOSTOK, January 10. /TASS/. Residents of Russia’s Far Eastern Primorye region will soon be able to travel to North Korea on a mountain ski tour, a representative of the regional agency for international cooperation told TASS.
"The first group of tourists from Primorye will go on a ski holiday to the DPRK. The tour will last four days and three nights, and will cost $750. This price covers the tourist entry visa to the DPRK, as well as the flight on the Vladivostok-Pyongyang-Galma-Pyongyang-Vladivostok route, accommodation in four-and five-star hotels and breakfasts. The tour also includes transportation during the entire stay in North Korea, excursions and Russian-speaking guides," the agency said.
The organization of this tour became possible thanks to the agreements reached between Primorye’s Governor Oleg Kozhemyako and the North Korean authorities.
On the first day, tourists arrive from Vladivostok to Pyongyang, visit its key attractions, including the Arch of Triumph, the Tower of the Juche Idea, built in honor of the 70th anniversary of Kim Il Sung, and other iconic places.
The second day marks the start of vacation at Masikryong, one of the world's most modern ski resorts with slopes of varying difficulty. The resort’s highest point is 1,360 meters. One can get there using one of four ski lifts. The steepest slope is almost 40 degrees. The resort has a total of 10 multi-level tracks, an outdoor skating rink, a snowball pit, a children's skating rink, and a toboggan run.
Last fall, bilateral exchanges between Russia and North Korea intensified. In September 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Russia. In October, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited the DPRK. On November 15, the tenth meeting of the intergovernmental commission of the DPRK and the Russian Federation on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation was held in Pyongyang. A delegation from the Primorye region led by Kozhemyako visited North Korea in mid-December 2023.