Why North Korea's dreams of becoming a tourism hotspot were always doomed | NK News
NK News Logo
December 23, 2024

NK News is hiring

Opinion

Why North Korea’s dreams of becoming a tourism hotspot were always doomed

The Warmbier case is the latest disaster in a long-failing project

Disclaimer: this piece was written before the tragic news of Otto Warmbier's death.

Every North Korean watcher remembers a number of instances when international media began to write (at great length and with genuine enthusiasm) about some imminent dramatic change in North Korea’s policy, usually implied to be the start of a miraculous transformation of the country into a wonder of East Asia.

Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.