On Friday, North Korea will let U.S. travelers visit year-round instead of only during the country’s brief annual national gymnastics and propaganda festival . Guided group tours brought in 292 Americans for the festival last year, reports Reuters. Prices haven’t been set, but similar tours for European visitors start at about $1,000 for four-night stays at designated hotels, guided bus tours, and round-trip flights departing from Beijing. Guests would likely fly Air Koryo , the worst rated airline on Skytrax’s list of international airlines. The European Union includes it on its blacklist of 196 airlines you should avoid . Money spent on the tour by travelers will provide hard currency to the impoverished dictatorship , which walked away from nuclear disarmament talks. The U.S. is still technically at war with North Korea, as a formal peace treaty has never been signed. U.S. companies likely to offer tours are Asia Pacific Travel in Chicago , Explore North Korea Tour Group in New York, and Geographic Expeditions in San Francisco. The leading tour company internationally is Koryo Tours , based in Beijing. EARLIER North Korea puts on a show

Original Source North Korea welcoming U.S. tourists year-round