London, Sept 2(ANI): North Korea has launched its first cruise liner, where cabins are shared and the ship is rusty.
Though the surroundings are less than glamorous, North Korea hopes to launch itself into the world of cruising with an ageing liner, the Mangyongbong, The Daily Mail reports.
The former cargo ship set sail on its maiden tour, carrying about 130 passengers from the rundown port of Rajin, near the China-Russia border.
Before the launch, Rason City's Vice Mayor Hwang Chol-nam gave a speech lauding the venture as part of the region's push to attract tourism. wang hailed his city's rule which allows any nationality to visit the area visa-free, the report said, adding that tourists must, however, arrange the trip through a designated tour companies, and that mobile phones must be left behind in China.
"Any country, people from America, Japanese, Singaporean can come to Rason, that's the reality today, and that's the same for the Kumgang special economic zone," Hwang said.
"If any foreign companies have an interest in conducting tours they just need to contact our companies."
The 9,700 tonne vessel then departed on its trial voyage, destination the scenic Mount Kumgang resort near the South Korean border, the report said.
During the 21-hour overnight cruise, which traced the length of North Korea's east coast, some passengers slept on wooden bunkbeds while others were assigned mattresses on the floor, the report said, adding that simple meals were served cafeteria-style on metal trays.
Officials have promised a 'more luxurious' ship capable of carrying up to 900 passengers, perhaps next year, said the report, adding that the goal is to bring as many as 4,000 visitors a day from Rason to Mount Kumgang during the peak summer season, up from some 500 per week now.
North Korea's move to attract foreign tourists comes amid a dispute with South Korea over their stalled joint tour programme at Mount Kumgang, the report said. (ANI)
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