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On January 22, 2020, Kim Jong-un acted quickly. North Korea closed its borders with China and Russia to stop a new, mysterious virus from spreading.
But more than a year later, the hermit kingdom’s border remains sealed tight shut. So what's going on? https://www.wired.co.uk/article/north-korea-covid-news
But more than a year later, the hermit kingdom’s border remains sealed tight shut. So what's going on? https://www.wired.co.uk/article/north-korea-covid-news
North Korea’s response to the Covid pandemic has been one of the most extreme and paranoid in the world, experts say.
The lockdowns and quarantines it has imposed have been strict, while border restrictions have put a halt to fishing and the smuggling of goods into the country
The lockdowns and quarantines it has imposed have been strict, while border restrictions have put a halt to fishing and the smuggling of goods into the country
Meanwhile, the nation’s state media and propaganda apparatus has pumped out messages warning its citizens of the dangers of Covid-19 and praising the country’s “flawless” approach to the pandemic.
But the real impact of Covid-19 on North Korea – and its citizens – is a mystery
But the real impact of Covid-19 on North Korea – and its citizens – is a mystery
Officially, North Korea has recorded no cases of Covid-19 - but the experts we spoke to doubt that.
“I don't know many people in the North Korea watcher, analyst and journalist community that actually believe there are no cases,” says Sokeel Park from Liberty in North Korea
“I don't know many people in the North Korea watcher, analyst and journalist community that actually believe there are no cases,” says Sokeel Park from Liberty in North Korea
In its attempts to control Covid-19, North Korea has taken a similar, though more extreme, approach to other nations.
- People’s movement and travel is restricted
- Gatherings of people are limited
- Masks are mandatory
- State media has been blanketed with public health info
- People’s movement and travel is restricted
- Gatherings of people are limited
- Masks are mandatory
- State media has been blanketed with public health info
But it's North Korea's emphasis on border control that really differentiates it from the rest of the world.
It's reported to have “shoot-to-kill” orders in place to stop anyone bringing Covid-19 inside its borders, South Korean intelligence claim to have uncovered one execution
It's reported to have “shoot-to-kill” orders in place to stop anyone bringing Covid-19 inside its borders, South Korean intelligence claim to have uncovered one execution
Meanwhile, within North Korea, the message has been clear: people need to follow the rules.
State-run media outlets have told people about the symptoms of Covid-19 and have been upfront about the need to prevent the virus spreading, saying it's a matter of ‘national survival’
State-run media outlets have told people about the symptoms of Covid-19 and have been upfront about the need to prevent the virus spreading, saying it's a matter of ‘national survival’
But that's not all.
“North Korean media have also been pushing out fringe theories and unverified claims on how the virus is spread,” says Pratik Jakhar, an expert on North Korea at BBC Monitoring.
“North Korean media have also been pushing out fringe theories and unverified claims on how the virus is spread,” says Pratik Jakhar, an expert on North Korea at BBC Monitoring.
The full impact of Covid-19 on North Korea may never be known – at best, experts believe details will trickle out over the coming years.
Border controls mean that the number of defectors, normally a key source of knowledge for what happens in North Korea, plummeted last year.
Border controls mean that the number of defectors, normally a key source of knowledge for what happens in North Korea, plummeted last year.
Despite these tough border controls, there’s one thing that North Korea does want to flow freely into the country: Covid-19 vaccines.
Read more on WIRED https://www.wired.co.uk/article/north-korea-covid-news
Read more on WIRED https://www.wired.co.uk/article/north-korea-covid-news
Image 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6: Kim Won Jin / Getty Images Image 3: Yevgeny Agoshkov / Getty Images
