North Korea finally opens their borders.

 

The train station in Pyongyang. The Guardian/Reuters.

North Korea appears to have opened their land border with China with reports that a train has arrived from the isolated nation. The Guardian. North Korea closed their borders with China in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The country supposedly has had zero cases of the virus. This has largely cut off aid for the country, though some has come through seaports. It is likely that the train will be bringing back supplies for the country. 

My Comment:

It's been awhile since we have heard much from North Korea, but they seem to be making it back to the news. In addition to this story, North Korea has been launching missiles into the sea of Japan again. For a country that essentially disappeared for several years, this is a big change. 

I don't believe for a second that North Korea did not have any Coronavirus cases. Given their proximity to China I am guessing that they had it sooner than everyone else and it burned through them just like it did for everyone else. There is a chance I am wrong about it and they did close the borders in a successful effort to control the virus, but I don't believe they would have been successful in that effort.  

So why close the borders? Probably to keep the impact of the virus a secret. If it was known how damaging the virus was to North Korea it could embolden the countries enemies, at least that's probably what the North Korean government was thinking. 

The decision had major impacts on the country. It cut off the vast majority of trade and aid that the country relies on to survive. They likely had major food issues and have likely impoverished their country even further than normal. They had to open their borders eventually or risk the stability of the country. 

I also think that it's additional proof that the Coronavirus pandemic is near an end. North Korea's reaction to the Coronavirus was the most paranoid and extreme in the world, even compared to Australia. But now, they are confident enough to open their borders, despite the "threat" from the Omicron variant. If even North Korea is giving up on restrictions that means the pandemic is all but over.