JOY ELLEN YOON — North Korea Expands Domestic Development While Restricting Foreign Entry

Since July 2025, national borders in the northeastern region of North Korea (DPRK) known as Rason have gradually expanded their quota for foreign visitors. Beginning in January, international tourists were once again permitted to enter the country. However, in March, the city of Rason suddenly halted tourism. After July, approximately one hundred foreigners—mostly Chinese nationals—were allowed to enter per day. By September, that number grew to a few hundred visitors within the city limits.

Now, echoing earlier fluctuations this year, Rason is once again tightening its entry restrictions. On Wednesday, November 12, Rason authorities announced that primarily Chinese passport holders would be permitted to enter through this northeastern border crossing. As a result, the city continues its “yoyo” border-control policy, oscillating between more lenient and restrictive measures. It remains unclear when other foreigners will be allowed to return or which nationalities may be granted access in the future.

Designated as a free economic zone that promotes international business and investment, Rason sits at the tri-border area where Russia, China, and the DPRK meet. While the region is primarily known for its garment industry, several other companies benefit from foreign ownership or investment. Most economic engagement in Rason involves Chinese businessmen, along with some Russian tourists who visit the area.

Visitors who entered the DPRK during this brief reopening window noted significant internal changes. Despite years of isolation, the country has continued to improve its infrastructure. New roads and buildings have been constructed at remarkable speed, and entire new residential neighborhoods have emerged.

Rural development accelerated noticeably in 2023 and 2024. Most major projects have focused on farms and rural villages. Old housing blocks have been demolished and replaced with modern apartments. With a strengthened defense system and greater food security, the DPRK has been able to shift its attention toward economic growth. As a result, ordinary citizens have experienced improvements in living standards and economic stability.

This year, the government has placed particular emphasis on medical and economic development across the provinces outside Pyongyang. There is a clear national push to upgrade regional infrastructure and healthcare systems to approximate the standards of hospitals in the capital.

Possibly connected to this agenda, a delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF is scheduled to return to the DPRK this month. If successful, this would mark the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that foreign staff from these two agencies have re-entered the country. Their anticipated visit is linked to child vaccination initiatives supported by both organizations. As of now, no official report has been released regarding the status of their trip.

Although the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic over in May 2023, the DPRK has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels of tourism and border openness. Two and a half years after global recovery, North Korea remains highly selective regarding who may visit and in what numbers.

The rest of the world has largely resumed normal international travel, but life inside the DPRK has permanently shifted. While the country has occasionally eased its border restrictions, it remains far from fully reopened. At present, only Russians, Chinese nationals, and a limited number of select visitors are permitted post-COVID access.

Despite uncertain border policies, the developments inside the DPRK suggest a nation focused on domestic development instead of international engagement. Rapid infrastructure growth, intensified rural development, and new national priorities in provincial healthcare all point to a country reshaping itself internally, even as it remains cautious about external engagement. Whether these internal changes will eventually lead to a more stable and predictable reopening to the outside world remains to be seen, but the observed improvements in recent years indicate that the DPRK is preparing for a future that may look markedly different from its pre-pandemic past.