Foreigners continue to visit N. Korea despite sanctions

SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) — Despite the United Nations slapping punitive sanctions on North Korea about a month ago, foreigners are still heading to the Asian country, a radio report said Wednesday.

The report by the Washington-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) quoted Paul Tjia, the head of the Netherlands firm GPI Consultancy, as saying that a group of Dutch businessmen plan to visit North Korea from May 23-28 to discuss joint ventures in various sectors like agriculture, garments, comic books and tourism.

They will seek joint projects with the North in the sectors that are not subject to the recent U.N. sanctions, he was quoted as saying.

He said a group of journalists also plan to visit North Korea in August.

Dylan Harris, head of the British tour agency Lupine Travel, was also quoted as telling the RFA that the company’s North Korea tour programs will go on as planned even before or after the North’s national holiday marking the birthday of the country’s founding father Kim Il-sung on April 15.

He said an amateur golf competition will talk place in North Korea in the fall as scheduled.

Another British tour agency, Political Tours, and Chinese travel agency Koryo are also planning to continue their North Korea tour programs this year despite the recent U.N. moves, according to the report.