Yonhap
News reported that despite North Korea’s nuclear test, Chinese
tourists are continuing to visit North Korea.
Even
with Kim Jong Il’s birthday coming soon (February 16th)
and the North Korean authorities' nuke test, the train from China to
North Korea has increased its number of trips. One source said that
because of Kim Jong Il’s birthday, North Koreans, who work in
China, are coming back to North Korea, which explains some of the
increase. However, Chinese tourists and traders are also increasingly
visiting North Korea too.
One
Chinese trader to North Korea said that this time last year, many
North Korean people and enterprises were busy buying wreaths and
gifts for Kim Jong Il’s birthday. However, this year people’s
spending on these things seems to have decreased noticeably. The
source also added that the North Korean economy seems to be in not
very good shape.
Source: Yonhap News
