The 80 or so men and women in sports suits with the North Korean flag on their front were in the departure hall of the Beijing International Airport. It was reported that they arrived on Wednesday or Thursday.
The group was reportedly going to take an Air Astana flight to Kazakhstan to compete in the World Taekwon-do Federation Championships, according to Japanese and South Korean media. The tournament is held in Astana until August 30.
North Korea, even in normal times, has few air links with the rest of the world, but since the pandemic it has closed its borders almost completely. It is unknown how COVID-19 affected the 26 million North Koreans, many of whom do not have access to vaccines, basic medical care or access to information from the rest of the world.
In September 2022, North Korea resumed train service to China, its main trading partner and economic supplier.
On Thursday, the South Korean spy agency told lawmakers that North Korea is preparing to gradually open its borders as part of efforts to revive its anemic economy.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers in a closed-door session that the North Korean economy contracted every year from 2020-2022 and its gross domestic product last year was 12% lower than it was in 2016, according to Yoo Sang-bum, one of the legislators who attended the session.
The apparent resumption of travel comes as UN human rights chief Volker Türk told the UN Security Council that North Korea is increasing its repression and the population is growing more desperate.
Türk added that North Korea’s restrictions are being tightened, including orders for guards to shoot anyone who approaches the border without authorization and a ban on almost all foreigners, including UN personnel, from entering the country.
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Seoul correspondent Hyung-jin Kim contributed to this story.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
