UK tour agency to host golf tournament in North Korea

A British tour agency plans to host an international golf event in North Korea this year, the amateur event's website showed Tuesday.

The impoverished North has moved to revive inbound tourism to earn much-needed hard cash in the face of sanctions over its nuclear programmes, developing lavish coast and mountain resorts.

"The next North Korean Amateur Open is hoped to take place in 2026," the website for the event, sponsored by Britain-based Lupine Travel, said.

"The event will be over two days, with one day practice and one day strokeplay," it added.

The tournament is open to amateur golfers of all nationalities, with the exception of South Korean and US citizens, who are barred from going to North Korea.

The contest will be held at the Pyongyang Golf complex, North Korea's only golf course and the world's "most exclusive", according to organisers.

Located around 27 kilometres (17 miles) from the North Korean capital, it was reportedly built in the early 1980s and was officially opened in 1987 to celebrate the 75th birthday of the country's founder, Kim Il Sung.

In 2023, Pyongyang's official DPR Korea Tour website said the course "covers an area of 196 hectares and has... 18 holes in total. More than 200 people can play there".

The North Korean Amateur Open amateur golf contest was held annually from 2011 to 2016.

But it had been suspended largely due to the Covid pandemic, which led North Korea to close its borders. 

AFP