North Korea Blockchain Conference: US Citizens Welcome, But No Foreign Journalists

North Korea announced Tuesday the details of a blockchain and cryptocurrency conference to be held in Pyongyang in April 2019. The announcement, made on the country's official website, specified details of the event, as well as those were not allowed to attend.

The Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference is scheduled to be held from April 22-23, 2019, even though the itinerary is for April 18-25. Details provided on the official webpage of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, the formal name for North Korea) specified holders of U.S. passports "are welcome to apply," but ruled out applications from those holding Israeli, Japanese or South Korean passports. It also said no foreign journalists would be welcome.

Blockchain industry experts are expected to attend the conference and engage in dialogue with local business officials. The trip — it costs 3,300 euros (about $3,750) — will also include trips to the Daedonggang Beer Factory, Tower of Juche Idea, and Kim Il Sung square. The price includes entry to the conference, stay and food, local transport, as well as a return flight from Beijing. The cost does not, however, include the visa to North Korea, which costs another 80 euros.

According to the website, the first such event of its kind in the country is being held so that "International experts in the Blockchain and Crypto industry will gather for the first time in Pyongyang to share their knowledge and vision, establish connections and discuss business opportunities."

It will be held at the sprawling Pyongyang Science and Technology Complex. To attend, interested participants are to send a copy of the main page of their passport, together with complete address, telephone number and a short resume to korea@korea-dpr.info. For those interested in speaking at the conference, the same details should be sent to chrisemms@protonmail.com.

According to the announcement, the organizers include Alejandro Cao de Benos — a Spanish-North Korean political activist who is a special delegate for North Korea's Committee for Cultural Relations as well as president of the Korean Friendship Association — and Chris Emms, a blockchain and crypto expert, and founder of Token Key.

For those who may have security concerns over visiting the country, the page said DPRK was the safest country in the world, as long as one had "basic common-sense and respect for the culture and belief of other nations, you'll be always welcome and enjoy like thousands of friends we've been hosting for the past 28 years and engaged in cultural, sports, science or business relations."

Given the fact that U.S. tourists have been banned from visiting North Korea by the State Department since June 2017, this event is an unusual opportunity for those wanting to visit the isolated country.

North Korea has tried to change its international image in recent years, after it was widely accused of being involved in systemic, widespread and gross human rights violations in 2011. The country has held a number of international conferences and sporting events (like co-hosting the Winter Olympics with South Korea in February) in order to promote its tourism sector.

North Korea was also accused of using cryptocurrencies to bypass strict U.S. sanctions imposed on Pyongyang for its nuclear program and ballistic missile launches.