News outlets in the region are noting a possible shift in North Korea’s border regime after a lengthy lockdown linked to the COVID-19 outbreak. Reports from a major South Korean outlet suggest that movement at least part of the way across the border could resume in the near term, signaling a potential shift in the country’s policy toward international travel. The accounts describe two buses carrying passengers departing from the northern city of Sinuiju and heading toward Dandong, China, using a bridge over the Amnok River to cross the border. The development appears to involve a convoy that may include members from North Korea’s national taekwondo team, with the team slated to participate in the ITF World Championships in Kazakhstan later this month. This event is scheduled to take place from August 18 to 27 and has drawn attention as a possible barometer of Pyongyangs openness to cross-border movements among athletes and officials alike. The story also notes earlier statements from travel intermediaries who suggested that border restrictions could ease in the near future, implying that North Korean residents might regain the ability to travel abroad under revised rules. Such potential changes come after a period in which Pyongyang implemented some of the strictest border controls in the world, aimed at preventing the spread of the virus but also complicating diplomatic rotations and relations involving international personnel. In related diplomacy news, a former Russian president publicly acknowledged North Korea’s leadership during a recent national commemoration, underscoring the ongoing symbolic exchanges between Pyongyang and other capitals even as practical travel remains constrained for many people.
