In a first since pandemic, North Korean flight lands in Beijing ending Pyongyang's global isolation
COVID pandemic, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has further fortified the country to ensure a complete isolation from the world in terms of news and information. He has built hundreds of kilometers (miles) or upgraded border fences, walls and guard posts since the pandemic began.
Due to stringent isolation, many foreign delegations closed their embassies in Pyongyang because they were unable to rotate staff or ship in supplies for much of the pandemic. One diplomat for a Western country that pulled its staff from its embassy in Pyongyang said there was no official word from North Korean officials on when they could return.
"We expect a gradual opening with 'friendly' countries first, so we may be a bit down the list," the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue. Before the pandemic hit the nation, Russia and China were estimated to host around 20,000 North Koreans each, according to a report by the Association of Asian Studies.
Since the end of 2019, U.N. Security Council resolutions have required that all countries deport North Korean workers, but many remain in China, Russia, and other countries.
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