Arrr, North Korea be lettin' its scallywags return to their homeland after a jolly long wait, mateys!
2023-08-27
Arr, me hearties! Word be sailin' that North Korea be lettin' its wanderin' citizens, marooned abroad by this cursed COVID-19 tempest, make way back to their homeland. So says the grand state media, tis true!
In a jolly turn of events, North Korea has decided to allow its citizens who are abroad to return home. This announcement comes as a sign that the country may be easing its strict COVID-19 restrictions. The State Emergency Epidemic Prevention Headquarters made the declaration in a statement that was broadcasted on state media on Sunday. According to the statement, those returning home will be placed under medical observation at quarantine wards for a week. This news is significant because it is the first time that North Koreans have been informed about the reopening of the country's borders for its citizens.The individuals who have been stranded abroad due to the pandemic are mainly students and workers in China and Russia. These workers are a crucial source of foreign income for North Korea, so their return is highly anticipated. Since the start of the pandemic, North Korea has banned tourists, expelled diplomats, and significantly restricted border traffic and trade. This lockdown has exacerbated the country's preexisting economic difficulties and food insecurity.
Earlier this month, South Korea's spy agency reported that North Korea was preparing to gradually reopen its borders in an effort to revive its struggling economy. In line with this, a North Korean commercial jet made its first international flight in over three years, landing in Beijing. However, it remains unknown who was aboard the flight.
It is worth noting that North Korea claimed to have overcome the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2022, but many border crossing restrictions for individuals have remained in place. This recent announcement of allowing citizens abroad to return home suggests a potential shift in the country's approach to the pandemic.