Seoul: After four years, North Korea has reopened its borders to foreigners. China’s state broadcaster, TV, reported that Kim Jong Un announced that foreigners would be permitted to enter the country starting from Monday. According to the report, visitors will be required to undergo a two-day quarantine period.
At the beginning of 2020, foreigners were denied entry to North Korea due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Kim regime did not lift these restrictions until recently. North Korea’s official media has not provided any comments on this recent development.
In July, diplomatic representatives from China and Russia were granted entry. Subsequently, in August, commercial flights were organized to transport diplomats, students, and workers to Beijing and Russia. The international media reported that the new relaxation is a continuation of that.
Tourists from countries like China have been a significant source of revenue for North Korea. Due to the country’s isolation from the international banking system, revenue from tourism played a crucial role in facilitating foreign transactions. Kim’s decision to keep the borders closed for an extended period has resulted in substantial economic losses.
According to data from the Bank of Korea in Seoul, the North Korean economy is now weaker than it was when Kim assumed power a decade ago.
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