The United Nations announced that it had visited North Korea in mid-November and conducted an audit.

The UN stated on its website on Tuesday that representatives of its International Maritime Organization(IMO) had traveled to North Korea during the week of November 17 to conduct a “technical audit” under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme.

North Korea has been an IMO member since 1986.

The UN said the agency met with North Korea’s national maritime administration and visited multiple sites as part of the audit process.

It added that the trip marked the UN's first entry into North Korea since Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General Qu Dongyu visited in July of last year.

International organizations’ access to North Korea has been sharply restricted since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, analysts have cautioned against interpreting the visit as a sign that Pyongyang is expanding engagement with international bodies.