Last month, North Korea reopened its borders to a small number of foreign tourists for the first time since the pandemic, but it abruptly stopped issuing visas due to an influx of influencers. These content creators arrived with cameras, prompting concerns from authorities about negative footage leaking out, leading to an urgent halt on visa issuance.

British influencer Harry Jaggard noted that around 90% of participants at the Pyongyang Marathon were not athletes but rather content creators. For those from China and Russia, North Korean officials cited "national interests" as the reason for suddenly canceling visas.

Within just three weeks of reopening, North Korea announced another closure of its borders, presumably in response to the unfamiliar influencer culture causing anxiety among its citizens and government.

Additionally, North Korea has recently renamed the “Unification Pavilion” to “Panmun Pavilion,” signaling a shift away from any conception of unification. During a military inspection, Kim Jong-un showcased advancements in drone technology to emphasize the nation's military capabilities.