North Korea recently reopened its borders to a limited number of foreign tourists after the pandemic, only to swiftly close them again due to the unexpected influx of social media influencers.

Among them was British influencer Harry Jaggard, who participated in the Pyongyang Marathon, bringing cameras to capture the unique sights of North Korea. Their arrival raised concerns from the North Korean government, particularly as guides struggled to manage the unexpected attention.

Approximately 90% of the attendees were content creators rather than participants, increasing pressure on local officials who had to respond to an influx of cameras and sensitive questions.

Furthermore, North Korea recently changed the name of the 'Unification Pavilion' to 'Panmun Pavilion,' reflecting its resistance to any concept of unification. Kim Jong Un also emphasized military strength during inspections of army units, underscoring the widening gap between North Korea and the international community.