North Korea: fears of a new famine after three years of COVID isolation and harsh repression
Retrieved on:
Friday, June 16, 2023
All except in one country: North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Key Points:
- All except in one country: North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
- In January 2020, Kim Jong-un decided to isolate the entire country from the outside world in response to COVID.
- And in June 2023, the DPRK remains closed except for trade with China.
- But instead of opening the borders, Kim urged his people to stay strong in the face of “tremendous challenges” of COVID.
Inside information
- But because it is so difficult to get information from inside North Korea, it is hard to assess just how bad the situation has become.
- Former information sources – such as diplomats and aid workers – have been shut out.
- Another informal way of getting up-to-date information (albeit limited) – from defectors’ families, when confirming receipt of remittances – has become more limited.
- While lacking adequate triangulation methods for the information, we can confirm inside information only partially.
Why don’t the people rise up?
- They spoke of rising disaffection with the regime, but also said that the level of fear of informers was such that nobody dared speak openly, let alone protest or even petition for reform.
- People at the top have a vested interest in keeping things the way they are.
- There is hope that North Korea will reopen its borders in 2023, such is the need for trade and foreign currency.