After two years of strict Covid-induced lockdown, North Korea slowly reopens border

Following two years of extreme isolation and economic decay, Pyongyang's leadership is looking for more sustainable ways to deal with a pandemic that could last years. While North Korea has so far claimed zero virus infections, it also calls its antivirus campaign a matter of ‘national existence.’

Seoul: After spending two years in a strict lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea may finally be opening up slowly. The reason could reflect a growing sense of recognition by the leadership that the nation badly needs to win outside economic relief.

The North's tentative reopening is seen in the apparent resumption of North Korean freight train traffic into neighbouring China. 

But it comes even as Pyongyang has staged several weapons tests, the latest being two suspected ballistic missiles on Thursday, and issued a veiled threat about resuming tests of nuclear explosives and long-range missiles targeting the American homeland.