North Korea's first liner: Least luxurious cruise ever?

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North Korea has entered the cruise market with its first liner, the Mangyongbong.

The former cargo ship set sail on its maiden voyage this week, 'treating' 130 passengers to a a trip from the port of Rajin, near the China-Russia border, to the Mount Kumgang resort near the South Korean border.

Over 500 North Koreans came to wave the boat off, bringing flags and fake flowers, as well as letting off paper fireworks with carnival music playing in the background.

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And, before it set sail, vice mayor Hwang Chol-nam of Rason City, of which Rajin port is a part, gave a speech explaining how he hoped the new venture would attract tourism to the area.

Hwang talked about his city's rule that allows any nationality to visit the area visa-free - as long as they've arranged the trip through a designated tour company.

According to the Daily Mail, he said: '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.

'If any foreign companies have an interest in conducting tours they just need to contact our companies.'

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And, despite some passengers sleeping on mattresses on the floor and shoddy karaoke sessions (pictured), a Jilin province hotel manager, Wang Zhijun, thinks it will appeal to tourists from his area because it doesn't have its own coastline.

But he predicted the price would need to be low - around 2000 yuan (£200) per passenger for an all-inclusive, five-day trip.

He said: 'It ought to be very popular. There are a lot of tourists already coming across to Rason.

'People from China's northeast would really like this kind of trip because it's a cruise. You can enjoy the sea.'

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North Korea has only been open to Western tourists since 1987 and remains tightly controlled, but more destinations are gradually opening up to tour groups keen to see the country for themselves.

This cruise liner launch is hoping to boost tourist numbers to Mount Kumgang from 500 per week to 4,000 a day.

Officials have said a 'more luxurious' will be available next year - we think we might wait for that one...

Read more at the Daily Mail.