North Korea Lifts Travel Restrictions for Citizens Abroad, Indicating Pandemic Measures Relaxation

North Korea has announced that it will allow its citizens abroad to return home as pandemic situations ease globally, with returnees being quarantined for a week. This move is expected to bring back North Korean students, workers, and others who have been stranded abroad due to the pandemic, particularly in China and Russia. The return of workers will result in a loss of foreign currency for North Korea, prompting the government to potentially send new workers to replace them. However, this would violate a UN Security Council resolution. The country is unlikely to resume receiving foreign tourists soon, but may consider allowing foreigners to enter next year if the return of its nationals does not lead to coronavirus outbreaks.