North Korea plans to expand tourism into the health sector next year in order to "follow the international trend" and target Chinese tourists.

North Korea's Nursing Tourism Exchange Company has just been established to take advantage of "growing travel demand, including health care, and in keeping with international trends," Rodong Sinmun, the official language agency, said. Labor Party Commentary, reported today.

The new state entity will run health clinics located near hot springs, where mineral water is available to treat neuralgia, arthritis, heart and skin diseases. Some of the other services include cataract surgery, dental implants and tumors therapy.

Private tourism is one of the few industries in North Korea unimpeded by international sanctions due to its nuclear and missile programs. According to some analysts, up to 350,000 Chinese tourists to North Korea this year, is estimated to bring about 175 million USD.

Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a nearly-completed hot spring resort in the town of Yangdok, one of the major construction projects to help boost the country's self-reliant economy. Chosen.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the Korea Research University in Seoul, South Korea, evaluated Pyongyang's medical tourism development campaign to show progress and at the same time be able to attract more tourists. China.

"North Korea mainly focuses on natural tourist destinations and seems to think it can increase profits by combining them with oriental medicine elements, which many Chinese are interested in," Yang said. prefer.

However, a recent report by a South Korean government health agency said North Korea itself was having difficulty providing health care.

According to this document, local clinics and doctors lack basic medical equipment and supplies, while the situation at city hospitals is not getting better. However, the North Korean health industry is said to be getting better due to Kim Jong-un's interest.