COVID-19 may have breached North Korea’s border controls intended to keep the virus out, but there are still no signs that the country will relax its harsh travel restrictions any time soon, tourism industry insiders and humanitarian workers told NK News.

While restrictions have prevented all travel into the DPRK since March 2020, the country’s first known outbreak of the virus in April seemingly makes it harder for the government to justify the value of maintaining such strong travel curbs, especially as state media claims authorities are bringing the virus’ spread under control.