North Korea has decided to permit its overseas nationals to come back to their home country, indicating a continued relaxation of pandemic restrictions.

 

North Korea announces that it will enable its citizens residing abroad to return home, aligning with the global trend of easing pandemic conditions.

On Sunday, North Korea announced its decision to allow its citizens who are currently abroad to return home, aligning with the global trend of easing pandemic situations. This move comes as the country gradually relaxes its strict COVID-19 measures.

According to a concise statement from the State Emergency Epidemic Prevention Headquarters, which was broadcasted by state media, those individuals returning to North Korea will undergo a one-week quarantine period for "proper medical observation." While the statement lacked details, experts anticipate that this announcement will facilitate the repatriation of North Korean students, workers, and others who have been stranded abroad, mainly in China and Russia, due to the pandemic. These workers play a crucial role in generating foreign income for the country.

Following the onset of the pandemic, North Korea implemented a ban on tourists, repatriated diplomats, and significantly limited border movements and trade. This lockdown exacerbated the nation's long-standing economic challenges and food shortages.

Earlier this month, South Korea's intelligence agency revealed that North Korea was making preparations to gradually reopen its borders as part of an effort to stimulate its economy.

North Korea has announced its decision to allow its citizens residing abroad to return home, indicating a further relaxation of pandemic restrictions. As the country gradually eases its stringent coronavirus measures, North Korea stated that individuals coming back will undergo a week-long quarantine for "proper medical observation." Although the statement lacked details, analysts speculate that this move will facilitate the return of North Korean students, workers, and others who were stranded abroad, primarily in China and Russia, due to the pandemic. These workers play a crucial role in contributing to the country's foreign income.

Since the onset of the pandemic, North Korea had prohibited tourists, recalled diplomats, and significantly restricted border traffic and trade, exacerbating the nation's longstanding economic challenges and food insecurity.

Earlier this month, South Korea's intelligence agency revealed that North Korea was preparing to gradually reopen its borders as part of an effort to revive its economy. 

In a recent development, a North Korean commercial jet landed in Beijing, marking the country's first known commercial international flight in approximately 3½ years. Additionally, a group of North Korean taekwondo athletes and officials traveled to Beijing and then to Kazakhstan for an international competition. This marked the largest delegation from North Korea to make an international trip since the pandemic began.

Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute, explained that the repatriation of workers from overseas would result in North Korea losing a valuable and uncommon source of foreign currency. As a response, it's probable that the government will make efforts to dispatch alternative workers to China and Russia.

However, this course of action would contravene a U.N. Security Council resolution that mandated member states to repatriate all North Korean laborers from their territories by the end of 2019.

Considering North Korea's plan to subject returnees to a week-long quarantine, Cheong noted that it appears improbable for North Korea to swiftly reopen its doors to Chinese and other international tourists. He suggested that if the repatriation of its citizens doesn't lead to any COVID-19 outbreaks, North Korea might allow foreign visitors to enter the country next year.

In August 2022, North Korea made a highly questionable assertion that it had successfully overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite resuming freight train service with China, its primary trading partner and economic conduit, in the subsequent month, many of the restrictions on cross-border travel for individuals remained in place.