The borders to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) are finally reopening to a wider degree as 2025 ushers in a new era for the nation. Post-COVID, the DPRK has been slow to reopen its national borders and highly selective in who has been allowed to visit the nation.

Russians and other political allies were the first to visit the nation post-COVID. At least 600 Russian tourists visited since the pandemic until September of last year. Then starting in the fall of 2024, DPRK borders started to reopen slightly more as other nationalities were allowed to re-enter. Among them educators, college students, and businessmen were among the first to actively re-engage in the DPRK. Included in this group were Korean-Japanese college students who came at the end of August for a peace event at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies.

Now in January 2025 DPRK borders are reopening to an even greater degree. Chinese businessmen have started re-entering the Free Economic Zone of Rason. This northeastern Free Economic Zone is a unique area of the DPRK that encourages foreign investment and business adventures. It operates separately from the nation as a whole and is located at three-state border of Russia, China, and the DPRK. Traditionally, this region encouraged more investment from foreigner investors compared to business ventures even in the capital city of Pyongyang.

According to two tourist agencies, the Rason immigration border is currently reopening for tourism. It is unclear what groups and how many will be allowed to travel into the country, but tourists from China and all countries other than the U.S. and South Korea are permitted to visit. This is the first time that non-Russian tourists will be able to visit this northeast zone since COVID. People visiting the area from China or abroad can enter or exit primarily on Mondays or Thursdays. As Rason borders reopen, it can be expected that the economic development of the city as well as its surrounding rural areas will improve.

Recent economic development in the DPRK first began in the capital city of Pyongyang. The city’s development expanded with new roads, new apartment blocks, and new stores. Pyongyang is now more comparable to other worldwide cities with DPRK citizens using smart phones and QR codes to go shopping, make bank payments, and order food. With these improvements, the cost and standard of living has also gone up considerably.

Rural development also ramped up in both 2023 and 2024. Most development projects have focused on farms or rural villages. Entire old neighbors have been demolished and replaced with newer, modern apartments. With the strengthening of the defense system and improved food security, the country has consequently been able to reallocate their focus on economic development. Thus, in recent years, common people have benefited from improved living standards and economic security.

It is unknown how many regions or provinces of the DPRK have benefited from this rural development. But as Rason borders are re-opening, it will provide a unique glimpse into the life of ordinary people in other regions of the country outside the scope of the capital of Pyongyang.