More than three years have passed since North Korea closed its borders at the end of January 2020. North Korea’s borders have remained closed throughout the COVID pandemic, with only select shipments recently able to go into North Korea. Therefore, the last time IGNIS Community was able to travel into North Korea was in December 2019.

Border closings due to the COVID pandemic plus five years of global sanctions have taken their toll on everyday life in North Korea. Scalpels, needles, and basic medical equipment are in low supply. Women struggle to support their families as textile factories have closed and work has come to a halt. Most humanitarian organizations have pulled out of the country, resulting in approximately 41% of children throughout the nation being left vulnerable to malnutrition. 

As a result, IGNIS Community applied for Special Validation Passports (SVP) to re-enter North Korea for both the medical and humanitarian teams on March 6, 2023. IGNIS Community pre-applied to be ready and prepared to enter North Korea as soon as borders re-open and respond to humanitarian needs on the ground, specifically to provide needs for children five-years old and younger as well as for children with developmental disabilities.

On March 21st, IGNIS Community’s medical team consisting of four team members received approval letters from the U.S. State Department granting SVPs. Then on March 30th, IGNIS’ humanitarian team consisting of four other team members also received their SVP approvals.

Prior to the COVID pandemic, IGNIS Community had obtained approximately 20 SVPs, but each of these SV Passports were only good for one single-entry into North Korea. The U.S.’s travel ban significantly impacted our organizations’ ability to provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea. Humanitarian workers were required to apply for and obtain Special Validation Passports (SVP) from the Department of State for each trip in order to travel to and from the country. From IGNIS Community’s experience, the process took an average of 30 to 60 days, and in the end, humanitarian workers are only approved for SVPs approximately 76% of the time.

However, this time the U.S. State Department issued multi-entry SVPs, which are good for multiple trips in and out of North Korea throughout one whole year. The application process time was also significantly reduced. It only took IGNIS Community around two to three weeks to receive a response from the U.S. State Department.

Any humanitarian organization that cites compelling humanitarian needs for visiting North Korea multiple times and provides each trips’ itinerary may qualify for multiple-entry SVPs. These multi-entry SVPs greatly enhance the effectiveness of providing humanitarian aid. Being able to travel to North Korea multiple times within one year will enable humanitarian organizations’ to properly assess and address needs on the ground in a timely fashion. It also removes unnecessary red tape and paperwork each time an organization travel to the DPRK. Most importantly, by permitting charitable organizations the ability to respond to time-sensitive urgent needs, the lives of ordinary North Koreans can be saved.

It is likely that IGNIS Community may be able to return to North Korea within the year. Already the Chinese ambassador has returned to Pyongyang after nearly three years. Along with nine other Chinese diplomats, Ambassador Wang Yajun crossed the border at Sinuiju and returned to his post on Monday, March 27th. He is the first diplomat to return to North Korea since March 2020. With the Chinese ambassador in his new position, it is anticipated that the DPRK border may re-open and flights from China into North Korea may possibly resume within the next few months.