China eased some of its most intrusive COVID-19 rules Wednesday, providing a glimmer of hope for North Korean refugees and DPRK-focused aid organizations in the country that have suffered from Beijing’s “zero-COVID” approach.

But experts cautioned that the rule changes, while a positive initial move toward normalization, are unlikely to lead North Korea to relax its own border controls any time soon.

China’s reversal comes after rare protests against the government spilled out onto the streets of major Chinese cities, prompting Beijing to issue a “ten-point” plan easing many of the most restrictive measures.

The move will reduce obstacles that