North Korea Opens Its Doors After 3 Years and 7 Months Since the COVID-19 Outbreak

Effective Border Closure Due to COVID-19 Outbreak in 2020
Partial Return of North Korean Nationals... Need to Monitor Tourist Expansion

North Korea, which had closed its borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officially reopened its borders after about 3 years and 7 months.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean State Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters announced on the 26th, "In response to the worsening COVID-19 situation, the State Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters has decided to adjust the quarantine level, and the return of citizens who were staying abroad has been approved," adding, "Those returning will undergo thorough medical examinations at designated quarantine facilities for one week."

North Korean residents waiting for a passenger plane departing from Pyongyang at Beijing Capital International Airport
Photo by Yonhap News

North Korea effectively closed its borders in January 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. After COVID-19 cases occurred within North Korea, it activated the "maximum emergency anti-epidemic system" on May 12, 2022. On August 10 of the same year, it declared victory in the "anti-epidemic war" and lowered the quarantine level to a "tightened normal anti-epidemic system," but major measures such as border closures continued.

The citizens mentioned in this announcement are analyzed to refer to residents who recently entered North Korea from Beijing, China, via a flight operated by Koryo Air. North Korea stated that only North Korean nationals were approved for this entry.

Since the return of residents was carried out following the adjustment of the quarantine level, there is speculation that the return of workers, students, diplomats, and others who have stayed for extended periods in China or Russia may accelerate.

It remains to be seen whether the scope of entry and exit permissions will be expanded to include tourists and others in the future.

Considering the risk of a COVID-19 resurgence during the winter season, a full reopening is expected to be approached cautiously. There are also forecasts that the Hangzhou Asian Games, opening on the 23rd of next month, will serve as a milestone to gauge the pace of reopening.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.