N. KOREA'S NEW TOURISM STRATEGIES

[Anchor Lead]

North Korea has put out interesting tourism products in the new year such as ski and steam locomotive tours targeting European tourists. Tourism is the regime's means to earn foreign currency under global sanctions.

[Pkg]

North Korea's State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance released new tour packages targeting European travelers. It's recruiting visitors for a steam locomotive tour next month and skiers to the Masikryong ski resort in March. The programs all connect tourism in Pyongyang, Kaesong and Myohyangsan Mountain. This is being conducted in collaboration with European travel agencies including ones in the UK, Germany and Switzerland. Currently, 90% of foreign tourists to the regime are Chinese. Pyongyang is moving to change this and attract visitors from various other countries.

[Soundbite] KIM JONG-NAM(N. KOREAN TRAVEL AGENCY) : "Our agency takes care of reservations and overall guidance and services for customer convenience."

Since Kim Jong-un came into power, North Korea has been extensively fostering the tourism sector. The Yangdok spa resort, one of the three main tourism ventures pushed by Kim, opened last week while the Wonsan-Kalma and Samjiyon tourist zones are also set for completion this year. North Korea appears to be using tourism, which can sidestep global sanctions, to earn foreign currency and have economic achievements to show its people. The South Korean government is also reviewing plans to allow individual tourism across the border that does not violate sanctions... in an effort to advance inter-Korean ties.