The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the state and prospects for the development of international tourism in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The relevance of the study is due to the resumption of tourist exchanges in 2024, the strengthening of Russian-North Korean cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, and the DPRK’s desire to strengthen its economy through the tourism sector. The purpose of the study is to identify systemic problems and promising areas for the development of international tourism in the DPRK based on an analysis of historical experience, the current state of tourism infrastructure, and the geopolitical context. The article examines the historical stages of the tourism industry’s formation, starting from the emergence of Soviet-North Korean tourism cooperation in the 1940s and 1950s and up to the present day. It analyzes the tourism potential of the DPRK, including its cultural and historical heritage (UNESCO sites), natural resources, and recreational infrastructure. Based on statistical data, the dynamics and structure of international tourist flows are presented, and the dominant role of China as a source of tourists is shown. The key problems of the industry’s development are identified, including sanctions restrictions, infrastructure shortages, strict control over tourist movements, and geopolitical isolation. The study focuses on the prospects for Russian-North Korean cooperation in the tourism sector, the development of cross-border tourism, and the domestic tourism market as alternatives in the face of sanctions.