Although most tourists who visit North Korea are content with visiting well-worn sites like the Juche Tower, Kim Il Sung Square and DMZ, for those going back a second time or interested in seeing something truly unique, the north-east of the country awaits.

Visited by just a handful of tour groups per year, the DPRK's north-easterly region contains a diverse range of cities, towns and villages that have opened to foreign visitors in recent years. Last year, for example, the Tumen border opened to Western tourists for the first time, meaning access to towns like nearby Hoeryong and Namyang became possible. This year trains are now making it possible for tourists to travel north from the east-coast city of Hamhung, meaning visits to Chongjin and Chilbo are finally possible without the need to charter aircraft – a mysterious but previously official requirement.