North Korea has become the latest country to reopen its borders following the COVID-19 pandemic – but only to its own citizens.

Pyongyang announced its own citizens will be allowed to fly back into the country, with those returning having to quarantine for seven days for “proper medical observation”, according to a statement on state television.

While details are scant, experts believe North Koreans abroad include students and workers, and were mostly based in allied countries such as China or Russia.

North Korea slammed its borders shut after the pandemic started, banning tourism, flying out key diplomats and halting border traffic and trade, with analysts believing the move harmed its food security and economy.

South Korea’s spy agency said it believes the North will slowly begin to fully reopen its borders in an effort to revive its economy.

The move comes a few days after a North Korean commercial flight landed in Beijing for what is thought to be the first time in more than three years.

The jet returned later that day, but it is not known who was on it.

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Earlier in the month, a delegation of North Korean taekwondo athletes travelled to Beijing by land before flying to Kazakhstan to take part in an international competition.

It was the largest group to fly out of North Korea since the start of the pandemic.

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There has also been a flight to Russia’s Vladivostok in recent days, with South Korea’s Yonhap agency stating no passengers were on board.

Several flights a week are due to operate to the Russian city from Pyongyang – the only air link between the two countries.

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While its borders appear to have reopened, experts say it will be some time before tourists return to the secretive state, given the continued nervousness around COVID there.

It’s not the only airborne activity North Korea is carrying out – a second spy satellite launch from the country failed earlier this week.

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