Communist-curious Brits can breathe a sigh of relief as little fat dictator Kim Jong-un has reopened the borders of a Special Economic Zone – where foreign nationals can experience local life
British tourists can finally visit North Korea after little tubby dictator Kim Jong-un reopened the Special Economic Zone in the northeast of the country. Rason, the city not far from the Russian and Chinese border, is now open to all nationalities – apart from those travelling on US or South Korean passports – for the first time in five years.
Before the tourist ban was stood down, only those with Russia citizenship could travel to the city. Rason has been operating as a Special Economic Zone – an area where North Korea experiments with capitalism – since the 1980s.
It is the only place in the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea where a foreign national can spend local currency DPKR Won in shops and even open a bank account. The city also trades with China and Russia, which both have borders nearby.
Travel blogger Young Pioneer, who documents visits to obscure and sometimes unrecognised countries, told his Instagram followers: “North Korea has reopened tourism in Rason, the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the northeast of the country, according to our local DPRK partners. The official reopening is technically effective from today.
“This is, however, a breaking story, and things could change rapidly in the coming days.” He added that “all nationalities except those travelling on US or South Korean passports” are permitted into the Special Economic Zone.
The zone operates in a similar fashion to how Hong Kong works within communist China. While the successes of the experiment could not be compared to that of Hong Kong, there have been some favourable outcomes.
There are casinos, fish processing plants, a Ukrainian restaurant and even an American with a goat farm. The population of Rason is less than 100,000 but there are plans to grow the population to 800,000 – inclusive of foreigners – over a ten year period.
It comes as mad Vlad has started trials to bring in a North Korea-style “internet” that “blocks” enemy influences, according to a Kremlin insider. In an apparent tip of the cap towards North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un’s leadership style, the Russian president is carrying out “exercises” to introduce a “sovereign internet” network while blocking out the internet “from the outside”.
General SVR, a Telegram account claiming to be a source from within the Kremlin, added that exercises carried out so far were not up to scratch.
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