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How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected North Korea?

It has been hard to source verifiable information about the pandemic in North Korea. Officially, there have been no cases of Covid-19 during the pandemic.  However, there have been reports of infections, particularly along the border with China, and the threat of the virus has been having a major impact on the North Korean economy.  One possible outbreak took place last year at an elite military academy in the capital Pyongyang which lead to the demotion of the officer in charge.  Rob Lauler, a news correspondent who works in Seoul, South Korea, has been monitoring reports that filter out via Daily NK, an online news site that reports on the North from its offices in South Korea. He outlines what is known about the outbreak, and the impact of the pandemic.

Photo: People wearing protective face masks commute in Pyongyang, North Korea, March 2020 Credit: Reuters

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4 minutes