North Korea is currently confirming the identities of overseas Chinese people who left the country during the COVID-19 lockdown period and may grant them entry into the country soon, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source told Daily NK on Nov. 30 that North Korean authorities recently requested the Association of Overseas Chinese People in China to submit a list of overseas Chinese who wish to enter North Korea. Following this request, the association has been asking those who were not able to enter North Korea due to the COVID-19 border lockdown would like to return.
North Korean authorities have requested that the association identify not only who is interested in entering North Korea but also their date of birth, address in North Korea, current address in China, contact information, and passport information. That the North Korean authorities have asked for their passport information suggests that overseas Chinese people will be allowed into the country soon.
During North Korea’s COVID-19 border lockdown, overseas Chinese living in North Korea asked permission to return to China due to economic hardships, and the requests were accepted by the authorities several times.
Before authorities initiated the COVID-19 border lockdown in January 2020, overseas Chinese living in North Korea moved between North Korea and China to play a leading role in small-scale trade. During the COVID-19 lockdown period, however, these business people suffered huge losses due to stricter border controls that prevented trade.
Some of the overseas Chinese barely getting by with money sent by relatives and acquaintances from China left their families in North Korea and returned to China when the North Korean authorities allowed them to return. As a result, most Chinese people who wish to enter North Korea at the moment are those who have left their families in North Korea.
Moreover, the authorities appear willing to allow the overseas Chinese to restart some of their small-scale trade activities. If overseas Chinese are unable to conduct such trade activities they would be unable to make money in North Korea.
However, even if the North Korean authorities allow some small-scale trade to restart, the overseas Chinese will likely have to obtain permission from North Korean authorities in advance, import specific goods requested by the authorities, and pay the authorities for permission to trade.
Meanwhile, overseas Chinese hoping to enter North Korea are already expecting to pay an entry fee.
“Overseas Chinese had to pay to exit North Korea, so North Korean authorities will obviously make them pay to re-enter,” the source said. “They’ll probably have to pay at least a few thousand yuan.”
Translated by Annie Eun Jung Kim. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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