Lena Bychcova, one of the 97 Russian guests, was surprised to learn that her application for a North Korea tourist visa was approved.

Tourism in North Korea is strictly controlled, visitors are not allowed to travel on their own but must follow a tour, accompanied by a supervisor. Russian tourist groups always have Russian-speaking guides and interpreters with them.

They visited the bronze statues of late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill, Mangyongdae Children's Palace and spent 3 days at Masikryong ski resort.

Visitors must follow strict regulations, especially regulations on taking photos or videos. Guests are asked not to take photos of the military, people in uniform, construction sites or any buildings under construction.

The 4-day trip costs each tourist nearly 750 USD. North Korean newspapers have become Bychcova's favorite souvenirs when returning to Russia.

Voskresensky, a travel blogger on the same tour as Bychcova, said the trip was like a "transport into the past." He wanted to go to North Korea to see if this place was similar to the former Russia - the Soviet Union that his grandparents and parents had told about. He declared that he worked as a janitor and sold food instead of his main profession as a blogger because he did not want any unnecessary misunderstandings to delay the trip for the whole group.

Voskresensky and Bychcova both said their decision to travel was not for political purposes. They experienced an exciting and memorable trip in a mysterious and unique country like North Korea.

Before the epidemic, the largest market for international visitors to North Korea was China. However, after the epidemic, Russians were the first group of visitors allowed to enter the country, this is a sign that the relationship between Russia and North Korea is progressing extremely well. After this, North Korea is seeing another group of Russian tourists in March.

According to CNN