JOY ELLEN YOON — DPRK Borders Temporarily Re-close

DPR Korea’s northeast border of Rason recently reopened for tourism in February, but on March 5th it was suddenly announced that the borders are reclosing. Not only Rason borders but DPRK officials are also announcing that possibly the entire country is once again temporarily closing its borders.

Pyongyang’s borders have been open to select groups since 2023, but Rason borders just reopened in 2025. Tourist agencies such as Koyro Tours and Young Pioneer Tours had just revisited the area and re-initiated tourism. Currently, all tours are closed until further notice.

Unfortunately, some reports suggest that DPRK borders will remain closed until the summer. Despite this, foreigners who are currently in the nation will not be asked to leave immediately. Any foreigner in the DPRK can stay as long as their visa allows, but once they leave they will not be allowed back into the country until borders officially reopen.

This is shocking news after international travel agencies and other foreigners have just started to re-engage inside the country. Due to COVID, DPRK borders closed at the end of January 2020, resulting in an isolating five years with little to no international engagement. Rason’s borders had only been opened for a short three weeks before closing again.

Those who had the privilege of visiting the country within this narrow window report a lot of changes inside the nation. Despite years of isolation, the DPRK has continued to improve its infrastructure. New roads and buildings have been erected at an enormous speed. Entire brand-new neighborhoods with new residential housing have been constructed.

In addition to tourist agencies, Chinese businessmen and a select few small-scale humanitarian organizations were allowed to visit Rason. Designated as a free economic zone in the DPRK promoting international business and investment, Rason is located at the far northeast corner where Russia, China, and DPR Korea meet. Primarily known for its garment industry, other companies with foreign ownership or investment in the region include a cigarette factory, shoe manufacturing companies, and a transportation business.

Although Pyongyang’s borders have yet to officially close, reports from inside suggest that all DPRK borders may be closed at this time. Prior to COVID, hundreds of thousands of foreign travelers visited the DPRK on an annual basis with many of those travelers coming from China. Post-COVID primarily only tourists from Russia have been visiting the country.

Koryo Tours was also set to reopen tourism for the Pyongyang Marathon this April. However, with possible nation-wide border closings it is uncertain whether or not the Pyongyang Marathon will be open to foreign participation.

Reasons for suspending tourism and travel to the DPRK are unclear. DPR Korea has changed substantially during its five years of closed borders. These changes include a stronger sense of self-reliance and legal changes that advocate for its own cultural identity apart from South Korea.

Recent tourists to Rason have also posted openly negative reviews of the country. Negative publicity from German and British tourists could be contributing to this unprecedented re-closure of borders.

Whatever the reason, it is clear that re-engagement with DPR Korea after COVID will require patience and persistence. The country is no longer operating as it once did. It is operating from a new post-COVID paradigm. As a result, our stance and engagement with the country should also adjust accordingly.