North Korea reopens to tourists, including Singapore visitors

Rowan Beard from Beijing-based tour agency Young Pioneer Tours was among a few selected travel operators allowed back to North Korea. - PHOTOS: ROWAN BEARD/YOUNG PIONEER TOURS, GERGO VACZI/KORYO TOURS

PYONGYANG: When Rowan Beard stepped into North Korea recently, his very presence sparked a buzz.

“At first, the North Korean immigration official was like, ‘You Russian?’ and I replied, ‘No, I’m Australian,’ and handed him my passport,” said the tour manager, who has travelled to North Korea more than 100 times since 2012.