North Korean Taekwondo Athletes Break Border Seal with Sports Delegation
North Korea has shown signs of cracking open its sealed borders by sending a large group of taekwondo athletes and officials through Beijing to an international competition in Kazakhstan, marking the first significant movement since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country's limited air connections and international travel came to a halt when it closed its borders to prevent the spread of the virus. The resumption of travel coincides with South Korea's spy agency reporting that North Korea is preparing to gradually reopen its border to revitalize its struggling economy, which has experienced a significant decline in recent years. Meanwhile, the UN rights chief highlighted the increasing repression and desperation among North Korean citizens, with reports of starvation as the economic situation worsens.