North Korea has been actively promoting tour packages using both air and rail to attract Russian tourists. However, since the July 1 opening, the actual number of visitors has been low, and a significant portion of the facilities remain unused. As autumn approaches, the number of tourists is expected to decline further, placing Kim Jong Un’s flagship achievement project in jeopardy.

Therefore, North Korea is likely to focus on attracting tourists from China’s northeastern provinces, which lack access to the sea and share much closer cultural ties than Russia, by cooperating with China to develop package deals that include casinos, hot springs, and skiing. Secondly, North Korea is expected to leverage its close ties with Russia by promoting the hosting of various government-level cooperation meetings, sporting events, as well as science and education seminars. At the civilian level, it is likely to actively pursue initiatives such as the operation of cruise ships as mentioned by the Russian foreign minister, the expansion of chartered flights, and financial support.