The number of people entering North Korea for the purpose of tourism rose 20% year-on-year in the first half of 2014, according to the North Korean state tourism agency.

Citing Ham Jin, the 52-year old director of Korea International Travel Company, pro-North Chongryon publication Choson Sinbo revealed news of the rise on July 15th, saying that it was driven by an increasingly diverse range of tourist products on offer.

The piece emphasized the existence of products for enthusiasts across various fields, saying, “New tours, like Masikryong Ski Resort tours, hiking tours, and military tours have all received favorable comments from the outset.” 

However, while the article stated that tourists have been heading for North Korea from a host of countries including the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, the United States, Brazil, and South Africa, it did not release concrete statistics to buttress the claim to 20% growth.