CHINA/NORTH KOREA: North Korea allows Chinese tourists to drive themselves around the secretive state for the first time in history

Record ID: 1962152

  • Title: CHINA/NORTH KOREA: North Korea allows Chinese tourists to drive themselves around the secretive state for the first time in history
  • Date: 16th June 2011
  • Summary: VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN NORTH KOREA (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (RECENT) (CCTV - NO ACCESS CHINA) NORTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG FLYING / CARS DRIVING IN CONVOY TOURISTS HOLDING FLAG TOURISTS WAVING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON BEACH CHANGCHUN, JILIN PROVINCE, CHINA (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (RECENT) (CCTV - NO ACCESS CHINA) (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) MANAGER OF THE JILIN PROVINCE CHINA YOUTH TRAVEL SERV
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, China
  • City:
  • Country: Korea, Democratic People's Republic of China
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics,Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVA896UJZQDJPDDEMMJS9AJVQ1VO
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: North Korea opened its roads to the first ever self-driven Chinese tour on Thursday (June 9), Chinese state television reported.
    Around 100 tourists travelling in a convoy of 24 cars crossed the land border between northern China's Jilin province and North Korea, CCTV reported.
    The travellers drove their own cars, but had to ensure that their cars were equipped for North Korean roads, said Li Changjiang, travel operator for China Youth Travel Service.
    "In order to take into account the conditions of the North Korean roads, we had strict restrictions of the type of vehicle used-- it had to be either a Jeep of a four-wheel drive. Since China's mobile network does not work in North Korea, we put one or two walkie-talkies in each vehicle," said Li.
    The cars, travelling in a convoy along empty roads, stopped off at Rajin Bay in Rason district, various local scenic spots and attended a performance by local children.
    Tour member Wan Jing, who last visited the country ten years ago said she was struck by the improvements in its tourist facilities.
    "Last time there was just a little rice and a few plates of North Korean delicacies. There was no meat available. There was a big difference this time-- there were fish dishes, all sorts of seafood, all sorts of vegetables. Also, there were the equivalent of high quality goods in the hotels. There were toothbrushes, shower gel, slippers, all were available in the hotel," said Wan.
    Chinese state television said the three-day tour costs around 1600 yuan ($147 U.S. Dollars) per person for Chinese citizens.
    China, the isolated country's only major ally, has shored up its support for Pyongyang in the past two years, despite regional tension centred on North Korea's nuclear programme.
    North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has visited China three times in the last year as his country readies for a dynastic handover of power that many analysts say could trigger instability.
    China sees North Korea as a strategic barrier against the United States and its regional allies.
  • Copyright Holder: CCTV (China) - NO RESALE MAINLAND CHINA
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp This asset – including all text, audio and imagery – is provided by CCTV (China) - NO RESALE MAINLAND CHINA. Reuters does not guarantee the accuracy of, or endorse any views or opinions expressed in, this asset.
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register