The escalating crisis between North and South Korea is making some people a little nervous, but for others it is only fuelling interest in the region. (Featured image by (stephan))
A tour operator specialising in trips to North Korea has reported a 400 per cent surge in interest since the war of words began recently.
Tensions are rising in Korea, with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declaring the country in a ‘state of war’ against South Korea and the United States.
Of course, it’s all rhetoric at the moment, but with the country barely out of the news more and more people are becoming curious about this mystery nation.
Regent Holidays, a Bristol-based tour operator that has been running trips to North Korea since 1985, has seen interest surge as a result.
“Most of the people getting in touch with us are new to North Korea,” said Gillian Leaning, Regent’s Marketing Manager.
“They have heard about it on the news and probably Googled it and have then seen that you can actually go there. It’s not a country that is usually on the travel radar but for some, it is now. People are curious to see how the news is portrayed there.”
The tours run by Regent Holidays are regimented closely by North Korean officials, with restrictions on independent exploration and taking photographs.
Despite increasing tensions between the North and South, including the movement of missiles by the North, the Foreign Office has not changed its stance on travel to the country.
“The government of the DPRK (North Korea) has made a number of statements which have increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula,” said a recent statement.
“These statements follow a satellite launch in December 2012 and suspected nuclear test this February. The FCO assess that there is currently no immediate increased risk or danger to those living in or travelling to the DPRK as a result of these statements.”
