Another group of Russian diplomats are preparing to leave the country and there is no information about when the border will reopen for diplomatic staff rotations, Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told RIA Novosti.

Despite recent rumors that tourism would resume, and the entry of Chinese Ambassador Wang Yajun in March, North Korea appears to be in no hurry to normalize cross-border travel. North Korean health authorities continue to enforce COVID-19 rules such as widespread masking,  and Matsegora said authorities are anxious about new variants as well as other infections such as monkeypox.