North Korea will officially reopen to international tourism by the end of the year, according to two Western tour companies that specialize in travel to the country.

Koryo Tours and KTG Tours announced on Wednesday that they have received confirmation from their local North Korean partners that the Samjiyon area near the Chinese border will reopen to foreign tourists in December, nearly five years after the country closed its borders in response to COVID-19.

Exact itineraries and dates are still being finalized, the agencies said.

“We have just been told that tourists will be able to go to Samjiyon